Abstract | PURPOSE: Previous evaluation of HER2 overexpression in salivary gland cancers indicated an incidence varying between 7 and 56%, with no clear difference among three histologically different subtypes. As part of a Phase II trial of trastuzumab for treatment of incurable salivary gland cancer, we screened 137 tumors for HER2 expression. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Unstained sections of paraffin-embedded tumor samples were stained with p185/HER2 receptor antibody. Tumors with moderate (2+) to strong (3+) complete membrane staining in at least 10% of the tumor cells were scored as positive for overexpression. RESULTS: The overall frequency of overexpression for HER2 was 17% (23 of 137), whereas it was only 8% in the three most common histological subtypes screened. Overexpression was distinctly rare in the most common subtype screened, adenoid cystic carcinoma (4%, 3 of 70). Overexpression was very common in salivary duct cancers; 10 (83%) of 12 were positive for HER2. This observation is consistent with the typical high-grade histological features and aggressive behavior of this subtype as well as with its histogenetic similarity to breast cancer. Analysis based on histogenesis (intercalated duct versus excretory duct) indicated a higher frequency of overexpression in the latter (55%) than in the former (7%). CONCLUSIONS: Our overall results suggest that trastuzumab will not have a major role in treatment of salivary gland cancers of intercalated duct origin. Further systematic evaluation of trastuzumab in subtypes of excretory duct origin could be supported.
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Authors | Bonnie Glisson, A Dimitrios Colevas, Robert Haddad, Jeoffrey Krane, Adel El-Naggar, Merrill Kies, Rosemary Costello, Carmen Summey, Matthew Arquette, Corey Langer, Philip C Amrein, Marshall Posner |
Journal | Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
(Clin Cancer Res)
Vol. 10
Issue 3
Pg. 944-6
(Feb 01 2004)
ISSN: 1078-0432 [Print] United States |
PMID | 14871971
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Receptor, ErbB-2
- Trastuzumab
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Topics |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
(therapeutic use)
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
- Biomarkers, Tumor
- Carcinoma
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Prognosis
- Receptor, ErbB-2
(biosynthesis)
- Salivary Gland Neoplasms
(metabolism, pathology)
- Salivary Glands
(pathology)
- Trastuzumab
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