Detection and clinical significance of HER-2/neu protein expression and gene amplification in breast cancer

OBJECTIVE:To investigate in contrast c-erbB-2 protein expression by immunohistochemistry and HER-2 gene amplification by chromogenic in situ hybridization in breast cancer,and to evaluate their value in clinical application.METHODS:Elivision immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization were used to detect c-erbB-2 protein expression and HER-2 gene amplification in 69 cases of breast cancer,respectively.RESULTS:Of 69 cases of breasr cancer,53 cases(76.81%)were positive in expression of c-erbB-2 protein,and 16 cases(23.19%)were negative.Thirty-two cases(46.38%)showed HER-2 gene amplification,and there was no gene amplification in the other 37 cases(53.62%)of breast cancer.In 22 cases that were displayed weakly positive or negative expression,there was no gene amplification.The difference was existed between the results of the two methods.CONCLUSIONS:The immunohistochemistry can be used to initial screening of whether or not select Herceptin in clinical therapy.The cases of c-erbB-2 positive expression should be further detected the status of HER-2 gene amplication by CISH to determine clinical application of Herceptin.