HER-2 : A possible target for therapy of metastatic urinary bladder carcinoma

• Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, HER-2, is overexpressed in various tumours, e.g. breast- and bladder tumours. The aim of this study was to predict the potential use of HER-2 receptors as targets in systemic treatment of disseminated bladder tumours. HER-2 expression was assessed in bladder carcinoma metastases and the corresponding primary tumours, and subsequently compared with the EGFR expression. HER-2 and EGFR expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 21 patients with metastatic bladder carcinoma. HER-2 was overexpressed in 81% of the primary tumours and in 67% of the metastases. All HER-2-positive metastases were from HER-2-positive primary tumours. The results for EG FR were 71% of both primary and metastases-positive tumours. In 90% of the primary tumours and 86% of the metastases, at least one of the receptors was overexpressed. These results suggest that HER-2 targeted therapy can be considered as an alternative or a complement to other modalities in the treatment of metastatic urinary bladder carcinoma.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Radiologi och bildbehandling (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Medical Imaging (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Urologi och njurmedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Urology and Nephrology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)