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HER2 / neu expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary gland origin: an immunohistochemical study
Author(s) -
Dori Shai,
Vered Marilena,
David Raphael,
Buchner Amos
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of oral pathology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.887
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1600-0714
pISSN - 0904-2512
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0714.2002.00017.x
Subject(s) - adenoid cystic carcinoma , salivary gland , immunohistochemistry , medicine , trastuzumab , salivary gland cancer , her2/neu , pathology , carcinoma , metastasis , radiation therapy , oncology , cancer , breast cancer
Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant tumor of salivary gland origin, which is characterized by a high rate of local recurrence and distant hematogenous metastasis. Despite aggressive surgical treatment and radiotherapy, the patient's long‐term prognosis is dismal. Prompted by recent studies on the amplification of the oncogene HER2 / neu in salivary gland tumors, we analyzed the immunohistochemical overexpression of HER2 / neu in salivary glands ACC. If the tumor exhibits overexpression of HER2 / neu , then treating it with the anti‐ HER2 / neu therapeutic agent, Herceptin (Trastuzumab, Genentech, CA), could be considered. Methods: The study comprised of 32 samples of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded specimens. All laboratory procedures and scoring criteria were performed according to currently approved FDA methods. Results: HER2 / neu overexpression was found in only five (16%) cases. Four cases (13%) scored 1+ and one case (3%) scored 2+. Conclusions: The low prevalence of HER2 / neu overexpression in ACC limits the clinical utility of Herceptin therapy for salivary gland ACC.