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Annals of Oncology 13:1398-1403, 2002
© 2002 European Society for Medical Oncology

Original Paper

HER-2/neu amplification detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in fine needle aspirates from primary breast cancer

C. Bozzetti1,+, R. Nizzoli1, A. Guazzi1, M. Flora2, C. Bassano2, P. Crafa3, N. Naldi1 and S. Cascinu1

Departments of 1 Medical Oncology and 3 Pathology, University Hospital, Parma; 2 Department of Pathology, Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy

Received 26 October 2001; revised 22 January 2002; accepted 7 March 2002

Background:

The HER-2/neu gene is amplified in 20–30% of human breast cancers and has been shown to have prognostic and predictive value for treatment with chemotherapy, hormone therapy and antibodies against the HER-2/neu domain (trastuzumab). The aim of our study was to evaluate the reliability of HER-2/neu determination by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) from primary breast cancer patients by comparison with the results obtained by FISH and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on the corresponding histological sections.

Materials and methods:

HER-2/neu amplification was determined by FISH on 66 breast cancer FNAs. Twenty-three and 36 corresponding formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were assayed by FISH and by IHC, respectively, in order to detect HER-2/neu amplification and HER-2/neu protein expression.

Results:

Twenty-seven per cent (18/66) of breast cancer FNAs showed amplification of HER-2/neu by FISH. Paired results by FISH cytology and FISH histology were available in 22 cases. Concordance was 91% (20/22). Paired results by FISH cytology and IHC were available in 36 cases. Concordance was 92% (33/36). Eighteen of 66 breast cancer FNAs were also submitted to flow cytometric DNA analysis. None of the diploid cases showed HER-2/neu amplification by FISH. Six out of the eight aneuploid cases were amplified and two were polysomic.

Conclusions:

HER-2/neu gene amplification can be reliably estimated by FISH on breast cancer FNAs and a good correlation has been found between FISH and IHC results from the corresponding histological sections.

Key words: breast cancer, fluorescence in situ hybridization, HER-2/neu


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