Amplification of HER-2(erbB-2/neu) oncogene as the most significant prognostic factor in a group of Russian breast cancer patients

• Published in: Neoplasma Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 35 - 39
• Main Authors: IMYANITOV, E. N, CHERNITSA, O. I, SEROVA, O. M, NIKOFOROVA, I. F, PLUZHNIKOVA, G. F, KNYAZEV, P. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian; English
• Published: Bratislava Slovak Academic Press 1993
• Subjects: Blotting, Northern; Blotting, Southern; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Chi-Square Distribution; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; DNA - analysis; DNA - isolation & purification; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gene Amplification; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, p53; Humans; Menopause; Middle Aged; Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; Oncogene Proteins, Viral - genetics; Oncogenes; Prognosis; Receptor, ErbB-2; Receptors, Estrogen - biosynthesis; Receptors, Progesterone - biosynthesis; Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic - genetics; RNA - analysis; RNA - isolation & purification; Russia; Transcription, Genetic; Russia
• ISSN: 0028-2685

Amplification of HER-2(erbB-2/neu) oncogene was detected in 36 of 142 (25%) breast carcinomas (BC) RNA expression was examined in 42 carcinomas, in 10 of them overexpression was revealed. Amplification was matched by overexpression. No association was found between the increased number of HER-2(erbB-2/neu) copies and tumor size, lymph node involvement, stage of disease, age of onset, and estrogen and progesterone receptor level. HER-2(erbB-2/neu) amplification was shown to be of independent prognostic significance in the group of 32 BC patients with sufficient follow-up (more than 40 months). Six of 7 HER-2(erbB-2/neu) amplification-positive patients and only 2 of 25 HER-2(erbB-2/neu) amplification-negative ones relapsed (p < 0.00005).