title: Comparison of HER2 Expression in Primary Tumor and Disseminated Tumor Cells in the Bone Marrow of Breast Cancer Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) from bone marrow (BM) aspirates and to assess correspondence or discrepancy with the primary tumor.
  
  
  METHODS
  DTCs were isolated from the BM of 156 breast cancer patients. Cytokeratin-positive DTCs were further analyzed by the chromogenic in situ hybridization method to detect HER2 gene amplification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant correlation (p = 0.021) was found between the HER2 status of DTCs and the primary tumors. Sixty-one (68.5%) patients had a corresponding status. However, a shift of phenotype between primary tumor and DTCs was found in the remaining patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed a significant grade of discordance of the HER2 status between primary tumors and DTCs in the BM of a relevant subgroup of patients. Detection of HER2 amplification on DTCs could therefore help to better stratify patients for a more tailored therapy, since they would benefit from a HER2-targeted therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rack
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zombirt
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trapp
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jückstock
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Andergassen
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neugebauer
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kost
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weissenbacher
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindlbeck
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Janni
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alunni-Fabbroni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human