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HER2 oncogene amplification in extramammary Paget's disease
Author(s) -
Tanskanen M,
Jahkola T,
AskoSeljavaara S,
Jalkanen J,
Isola J
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2559.2003.01648.x
Subject(s) - immunostaining , chromogenic in situ hybridization , oncogene , immunohistochemistry , pathology , extramammary paget's disease , gene duplication , medicine , adenocarcinoma , in situ hybridization , cancer research , gene , gene expression , biology , cancer , disease , biochemistry , cell cycle
Aims: To study HER2 oncogene amplification and over‐expression in skin samples of 23 patients with extramammary Paget's disease (EMP). EMP is a rare intra‐epidermal adenocarcinoma, which has been reported to over‐express the HER2 oncoprotein. Methods and results: HER2 gene amplification, detected by chromogenic in‐situ hybridization, was found in 43% (10/23) of the lesions. HER2 protein over‐expression (3+ immunostaining intensity) was found in 12 tumours (52%), including all 10 tumours with gene amplification. Two tumours showed low‐level (2+) HER2 immunostaining. Mammary Paget's lesions, which were used as controls, showed HER2 amplification and over‐expression in all 10 cases studied. Conclusions: These results indicate that HER‐2 protein over‐expression in EMP is common and due exclusively to gene amplification. They open up the possibility of HER2‐targetted immunotherapy for patients with HER2+ disease.