title: The clinical significance of HER2 protein amplification/expression in urinary bladder lesion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate HER2 oncoprotein expression by both immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) in different benign and malignant bladder lesions, and the effect of bilharzial infestation on this expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective controlled study, 72 patients were classified into a control group, and groups with cystitis, urothelial carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). HER2 was detected using standard IHC staining and FISH in all groups. The correlation of HER2 expression with tumour type, stage and grade in relation to normal urothelium and cystitis was assessed. The effect of schistosomal infestation was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HER2 expression was statistically significantly higher in patients with malignant lesions than in the other groups, and in high-stage and -grade tumours than in low-stage and -grade tumours. The use of FISH increased the detection of HER2-positive tumours. Schistosomal infestation did not affect HER2 expression in patients with transitional cell carcinoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-stage and -grade bladder malignancies expressed HER2 much more than did benign lesions. FISH is more sensitive for detecting HER2 expression. The treatment of HER2-positive tumours might benefit from novel targeted-treatment protocols.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza Egypt.
authors.forename: Olfat
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hammam
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza Egypt.
authors.forename: Hani H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Nour
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Kasr El Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosaad
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza Egypt.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akl
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Kasr El Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Heba
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalil
authors.affiliation: Urology Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza Egypt.
authors.forename: Hossam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Ganzory
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Kasr El Aini School of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hindawi
keywords: (N)MI, (non-)muscle-invasive; Bladder cancer; EGFR, epidermal growth factor receptor; FISH, fluorescence in situ hybridisation; HER2; IHC, immunohistochemical; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; Schistosomiasis; Squamous; TURBT, transurethral resection of bladder tumour; Transitional