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Overexpression of Her-2 in patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site.

AbstractPURPOSE: To determine the frequency of Her-2 overexpression in patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Tumor specimens from 100 patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma were stained for the Her-2 protein using the Dako immunohistochemical method. Clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with and without Her-2 overexpression were compared. RESULTS: Staining for Her-2 overexpression was successful in 94 of 100 patients. Ten (11%) of 94 tumor specimens overexpressed Her-2. Eight of 10 overexpressors had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and all overexpressors had predominant tumor location above the diaphragm, usually in the mediastinum or lungs. CONCLUSION: Her-2 overexpression occurs in a minority of patients with poorly differentiated carcinoma/adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site. Because most overexpressors had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, further evaluation of patients with adenocarcinoma of unknown primary site is necessary to determine the frequency of Her-2 overexpression in this common subgroup. Evaluation of the efficacy of trastuzumab in Her-2 overexpressors with carcinoma of unknown primary site is indicated.
AuthorsJ D Hainsworth, W J Lennington, F A Greco (Affiliation: Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Nashville, TN, USA.)
JournalJournal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (J Clin Oncol) Vol. 18 Issue 3 Pg. 632-5 (Feb 2000) ISSN: 0732-183X UNITED STATES
PMID10653878 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Receptor, erbB-2
Topics
  • Adenocarcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma (metabolism, pathology)
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary (metabolism, pathology)
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, erbB-2 (biosynthesis)
  • Retrospective Studies