title: HER-2, TOP2A and chromosome 17 alterations in breast cancer.
abstract: HER-2 amplification is a biomarker for identifying patients who respond to trastuzumab and has been evaluated as a factor predicting the response to anthracyclines. The relationship between HER-2 and response to anthracycline therapy may also be the result of the close localization of TOP2A on 17q. It has been a matter of debate whether these two genes, HER-2 and TOP2A, behave separately on different amplicons or act together thus making it possible to predict the TOP2A status from the HER-2 status. In this study TOP2A, HER-2 and chromosome 17 aneusomy were investigated by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in 50 consecutive breast cancer patients. HER-2 amplification was detected in 11 patients (22%) and TOP2A changes were seen in 6 patients (12%); two amplifications and two deletions were observed in HER-2-amplified cases and two deletions in HER-2-nonamplified cases. Three of the TOP2A-deleted cases had polysomy 17. HER-2 copy number was higher than the TOP2A copy number in one patient with co-amplification. Polysomy was observed in 9 cases (18%) and monosomy in 6 cases (12%). Aneusomy was the sole anomaly in 11 patients (22%). We conclude that the TOP2A status cannot be predicted from the HER-2 status and evaluation of the TOP2A status only in patients with HER-2 overexpression may lead to missing cases with TOP2A deletion with possible resistance to therapy. Other factors modulating topo II activity may also affect the response to therapy. Studies evaluating different parameters that can modulate topo II activity and the response to the drugs targeting the enzyme are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Oncology, Istanbul University Oncology Institute, Istanbul, Capa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asli Rehber
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Beser
authors.forename: Sitki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tuzlali
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guzey
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dolek Guler
authors.forename: Seniha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hacihanefioglu
authors.forename: Nejat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dalay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000075223:Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C000618811:TOP2A protein, human