[Amplification of HER2 gene in gastric carcinoma detected by dual in-situ hybridization].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the status of HER2 gene amplification and its product HER2 protein expression in gastric carcinoma, so as to aid in patient selection for anti-HER2 targeted chemotherapy.


METHODS
Eighty-five cases of gastric carcinoma biopsy tissues were collected. The status of HER2 gene amplification was detected by dual in situ hybridization (dual-ISH). And HER2 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
HER2 gene amplification was detected in 10/85 (11.8%) cases of gastric carcinoma, and no amplification was detected in 75/85 (88.2%) cases. In the 10 cases with HER2 amplification, HER2 immunoreaction scorings of 3+, 2+ and 0/1+ were present in 7, 2 and 1 cases, respectively. In the 75 cases without HER2 amplification, HER2 immunoreaction scorings of 3+, 2+ and 0/1+ were present in 0, 18 (24.0%) and 57 (76.0%) cases, respectively. Histologically, most gastric carcinoma with amplification of HER2 gene was moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
HER2 gene dual-ISH technique is a reliable and objective method for detecting HER2 gene amplification in gastric carcinoma biopsy. Clinically, only few gastric carcinomas show HER2 gene amplification and are suitable candidates for anti-HER2 targeted chemotherapy.
Department of Pathology, Kiang Wu Hospital, Macau, China.
Lai-fong
LF
Sin
Heong-ting
HT
Vong
Jian-ming
JM
Wen
Yuk-ching
YC
Yip
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human