HER-2/neu amplification predicts poor survival in node-positive breast cancer

• HER-2/neu protooncogene amplification and protein expression were analyzed with slot blot and Western blot techniques, respectively, in more than 300 invasive primary breast tumors of all stages. Amplification (2- greater than 30 copies) was found in 17% of these tumors and high expression was seen in 19%. There was a striking coincidence between gene amplification and high expression. Tumors associated with many involved axillary lymph nodes or with Stage IV disease were more often HER-2/neu amplified or overexpressed. Furthermore, gene alteration was strongly correlated with the absence of steroid receptors and with larger tumor size. High expression without gene amplification was seen in a minor subset of tumors of less aggressive character. Neither amplification nor overexpression was correlated with disease outcome for patients with negative axillary lymph nodes. For node-positive patients, however, HER-2/neu amplification was a significant predictor of early relapse and death (median follow-up = 45 months), and a similar trend, although not significant, existed for high gene expression. Multivariate analyses indicated that HER-2/neu alterations were not independent predictors of patient outcome.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Cancer och onkologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cancer and Oncology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Amino Acid Sequence

Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis

Blotting, Western

Breast Neoplasms/analysis

Female

Gene Amplification

Gene Expression

Humans

Immune Sera

Lymphatic Metastasis

Menopause

Molecular Sequence Data

Peptides/chemical synthesis

Prognosis

Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics

Proto-Oncogene Proteins/analysis

Proto-Oncogenes

Receptor, ErbB-2

Receptors, Estrogen/analysis

Receptors, Progesterone

Publikations- och innehållstyp

art (ämneskategori)

ref (ämneskategori)