Immunocytochemical evaluation of HER-2/neu on fine-needle aspirates from primary breast carcinomas

• Published in: Diagnostic cytopathology Vol. 28; no. 3; pp. 142 - 146
• Main Authors: Nizzoli, Rita, Bozzetti, Cecilia, Crafa, Pellegrino, Naldi, Nadia, Guazzi, Annamaria, Di Blasio, Beatrice, Camisa, Roberta, Cascinu, Stefano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.03.2003; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - metabolism; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle - methods; breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; False Positive Reactions; Female; fine-needle aspiration; FISH; Genital system. Mammary gland; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; HER-2/neu; Humans; immunocytochemistry; Immunoenzyme Techniques - methods; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Receptor, ErbB-2; Reproducibility of Results; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Tumors; Performance evaluation; Human; Carcinoma; Prognosis; Immunocytochemistry; Malignant tumor; Gene expression; Fine needle aspiration biopsy; Pathology; Mammary gland diseases; Primitive; C-Onc gene; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Cytopathology; Diagnosis; Mammary gland; Technique; Molecular biology; Comparative study; Protooncogene
• ISSN: 8755-1039; 1097-0339
• DOI: 10.1002/dc.10257

Detection of HER‐2/neu alterations is increasingly used in breast cancer patients for therapeutic purposes. This study examines the reliability of HER‐2/neu immunocytochemical assessment on 66 cytospin smears obtained by fine‐needle aspiration biopsy from breast cancer patients. Results were compared with those obtained by both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on fine‐needle aspirate (FNA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on matched histologic section. Concordance between immunocytochemistry (ICC) and FISH was 78% and between ICC and IHC was 84%. Discordance mainly concerned seven unamplified cases that resulted positive by ICC and four cases scored negative by IHC but positive by ICC. Simultaneous assessment of HER‐2/neu by ICC, IHC, and FISH was available in 24 cases; the concordance was 75%. In this study, the false positivity of immunocytochemical technique represents the major criticism. In our experience, FISH remains the most objective and powerful technique for HER‐2/neu assessment on breast cancer FNAs. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2003;28:142–146. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.