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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 3/2007

01-06-2007 | Review

HER-2 therapy. HER-2/neu diagnostics in breast cancer

Authors: Walter P Carney, Kim Leitzel, Suhail Ali, Rainer Neumann, Allan Lipton

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 3/2007

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Abstract

HER-2/neu status of the primary breast cancer (PBC) is determined by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Because of a variety of technical factors, however, the PBC may not accurately reflect the metastatic tumor in terms of HER-2/neu status. Recently published guidelines recommend that tumors be defined as HER-2/neu positive if 30% or more of the cells are 3+. Circulating levels of the HER-2 extracellular domain can be measured in serum using a test cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, and increased serum HER-2/neu levels to above 15 ng/ml can reflect tumor progression. Studies comparing tissue HER-2/neu status of the PBC and HER-2/neu levels above 15 ng/ml in metastatic breast cancer patients are also reviewed.
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Metadata
Title
HER-2 therapy. HER-2/neu diagnostics in breast cancer
Authors
Walter P Carney
Kim Leitzel
Suhail Ali
Rainer Neumann
Allan Lipton
Publication date
01-06-2007
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 3/2007
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr1664

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