HER-2/neu expression in archival non-small cell lung carcinomas using FDA-approved Hercep test

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 20; no. 3B; p. 2091
• Main Authors: Scheurle, D, Jahanzeb, M, Aronsohn, R S, Watzek, L, Narayanan, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece 01.05.2000
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - chemistry; Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Antibodies, Monoclonal - immunology; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - immunology; Carcinoma, Large Cell - chemistry; Carcinoma, Large Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Large Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - chemistry; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - chemistry; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Genes, erbB-2; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Lung Neoplasms - chemistry; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasm Proteins - immunology; Paraffin Embedding; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Receptor, ErbB-2 - analysis; Receptor, ErbB-2 - biosynthesis; Receptor, ErbB-2 - immunology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Trastuzumab
• ISSN: 0250-7005

HER-2/neu is a 185 kDa glycoprotein related to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Overexpressed in 25-30% of primary breast carcinomas, HER-2/neu is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Recently the FDA approved an antibody to HER-2/neu, trastuzumab (Herceptin), for the treatment of HER-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancers. Relatively little is known about HER-2/neu status and lung cancers. We reasoned that if HER-2/neu status could be ascertained in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), and a clinical correlation can be established, a rationale for the use of Herceptin in this tumor type could be established. Using a FDA-approved standardized diagnostic kit, HercepTest, for detection of HER-2/neu in clinical specimens, we examined the expression of HER-2/neu in NSCLCs in archival paraffin-embedded specimens (N = 81). In normal epithelium, HER-2/neu expression was not detected in a majority of samples (74/81). HER-2/neu overexpression was detected in 27% of the tumors of different histological types including adenocarcinomas, large cell carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas. Poor to moderately differentiated, but not well differentiated tumors showed overexpression of HER-2/neu. The specificity of HercepTest was further increased (from 27% to 21%) when the expression in the few normal tissues was subtracted from the tumor score. HER-2/neu may offer an attractive predictive and prognostic factor for NSCLC.