title: Different expression of HER2/neu oncogene in breast carcinoma and in liver metastasis. Description of a case.
abstract: We report the clinical, morphological and molecular findings regarding a 37-year-old woman with breast cancer metastatic to the liver and describe the different expression of a tumor marker in the primary and secondary lesions and the singular responsiveness to treatment. The patient suffered from a carcinoma of the left breast with metastasis to the liver. High HER-2 protein expression assessed by immunohistochemistry and HER-2/neu amplification determined by FISH were present in the primary tumor, while the liver metastasis showed a lower value of HER-2 protein (2+) and absence of HER-2/neu amplification. The patient was treated with chemotherapy (epirubicin and paclitaxel) followed by trastuzumab and docetaxel. After 5 months, at the completion of chemo-immunotherapy, liver ultrasonography showed a further hepatic response. A second biopsy was performed on the residual liver nodule: immunohistochemistry revealed negative (1+) HER-2 expression and FISH confirmed that the HER-2/neu gene was not amplified. The different amplification of HER-2 and expression of its protein in primary and metastatic carcinoma could be important for planning adequate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy. biomol@bshosp.osp.unibs.it
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Edda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simoncini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valcamonico
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.forename: Piergiovanni
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grigolato
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dessy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases