title: Additional Her 2/neu gene copies in patients with Sézary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Her 2/neu gene amplification has been reported in several types of cancer. Monoclonal antibodies against the Her 2/neu receptor are used as a treatment in e.g. metastatic breast cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of additional Her 2/neu gene copies in relations to the number of chromosome 17 centromeres of patients with Sézary syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes specific for the Her 2/neu gene locus and the centromere of chromosome 17 was performed on nuclei from peripheral blood cells of 9 patients with Sézary syndrome. For analysis of Her 2/neu protein expression immunostaining was performed. In addition, FISH was used to analyze distribution of typical lymphocytes on cryo-cut sections of affected skin of two patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  7/9 cases showed additional Her 2/neu gene copies in relation to the number of chromosome 17 centromeres. 4/5 cases with additional Her 2/neu gene copies in which immunostaining was performed expressed Her 2/neu protein. On cryo-cut sections atypical lymphocytes with additional Her 2/neu gene copies were detected in the dermis as well as in the epidermis of affected skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that Her 2/neu might be involved in the pathogenesis of Sézary syndrome and that Her 2/neu might be a promising target for antitumor therapy in a subgroup of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany. Jochen.Utikal@haut.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Utikal
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poenitz
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gratchev
authors.forename: Claus-Detlev
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Klemke
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nashan
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tüting
authors.forename: Sergij
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goerdt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics*; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D018734:Genes, erbB-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012751:Sezary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology