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01-10-2021 | Breast Cancer | Brief Report

Is there a correlation between HER2 gene amplification level and response to neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer?

Authors: Silvia Antolín, Lucía García-Caballero, Cristina Reboredo, Aurea Molina, Joaquín Mosquera, Ángel Vázquez-Boquete, Rosalía Gallego, Mari Paz Santiago, Ángel Concha, Eva Pérez, Lourdes Calvo, Tomás García-Caballero

Published in: Virchows Archiv | Issue 4/2021

Abstract

There are contradictory data regarding the correlation between HER2 amplification level determined by in situ hybridization and evolution after treatment with anti-HER2 therapies. The aim of this study was to correlate quantitative results of FISH (ratio HER2/CEP17 and number of HER2 signals/nucleus) with pathological response achieved after neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy. For this purpose, we analysed 100 consecutive HER2-positive cases of breast carcinoma treated with neoadjuvant therapy. HER2 amplification determined by FISH was found in 92 of the 100 cases studied. pCR was obtained in 58% of the patients whose tumours presented amplification. In contrast, no pCR was obtained in the 8 patients with non-amplified tumours. A significant direct correlation between HER2 high amplification (HER2/CEP17 ratio > 5 or HER2 signals/nucleus > 10) and pCR was found. In conclusion, HER2 amplification levels are clinically relevant because they provide oncologists with valuable information on the possibilities of achieving pCR after neoadjuvant treatment.

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Title: Is there a correlation between HER2 gene amplification level and response to neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer?
Authors: Silvia Antolín
Lucía García-Caballero
Cristina Reboredo
Aurea Molina
Joaquín Mosquera
Ángel Vázquez-Boquete
Rosalía Gallego
Mari Paz Santiago
Ángel Concha
Eva Pérez
Lourdes Calvo
Tomás García-Caballero
Publication date: 01-10-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Anthracycline
Trastuzumab
Cytostatic Therapy
Published in: Virchows Archiv / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 0945-6317
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2307
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-021-03104-7

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Is there a correlation between HER2 gene amplification level and response to neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab and chemotherapy in HER2-positive breast cancer?

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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