Biology, prognosis and response to therapy of breast carcinomas according to HER2 score.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The standardization of the HER2 score and recent changes in therapeutic modalities points to the need for a reevaluation of the role of HER2 in recently diagnosed breast carcinoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

A multicenter, retrospective study of 1794 primary breast carcinomas diagnosed in Italy in 2000/2001 and scored in HER2 four categories according to immunohistochemistry was conducted.

RESULTS:

Ductal histotype, vascular invasion, grade, MIB1 positivity, estrogen and progesterone receptor expression differed significantly in HER2 3+ tumors compared with the other categories. HER2 2+ tumors almost showed values intermediate between those of the negative and the 3+ subgroups. The characteristics of HER2 1+ tumors were found to be in between those of HER2 0 and 2+ tumors. With a median follow-up of 54 months, HER2 3+ status was associated with higher relapse rates in node-positive and node-negative subgroups, while HER2 2+ only in node positive. Analysis of relapses according to type of therapy provided evidence of responsiveness of HER2-positive tumors to chemotherapy, especially taxanes.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present prognostic significance of HER2 is correlated to receptor expression level and points to the need to consider HER2 2+ and HER2 3+ tumors as distinct diseases with different outcomes and specific features.

• Authors: S Ménard, A Balsari, E Tagliabue, T Camerini, P Casalini, R Bufalino, F Castiglioni, M L Carcangiu, A Gloghini, S Scalone, P Querzoli, M Lunardi, A Molino, M Mandarà, M Mottolese, F Marandino, M Venturini, C Bighin, G Cancello, E Montagna, F Perrone, A De Matteis, A Sapino, M Donadio, N Battelli, A Santinelli, L Pavesi, A Lanza, F A Zito, A Labriola, R A Aiello, M Caruso, F Zanconati, G Mustacchi, M Barbareschi, M Frisinghelli, R Russo, G Carrillo, OMERO Group
• Journal: Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology (Ann Oncol) Vol. 19 Issue 10 Pg. 1706-12 (Oct 2008) ISSN: 1569-8041 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 18544559 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal (therapeutic use)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Breast Neoplasms (enzymology, pathology, therapy)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Disease-Free Survival
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Mastectomy
• Middle Aged
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (biosynthesis)
• Retrospective Studies