Fluorescence in situ hybridization for HER-2/neu amplification of breast carcinoma in archival fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens

Acta Cytol. 2005 Sep-Oct;49(5):471-6. doi: 10.1159/000326190.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the usefulness of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for HER-2/neu amplification of breast carcinoma in archival fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens.

Study design: All FISH performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical specimens during January 2003-August 2003 at the University of California Irvine Medical Center were selected. Prior FNABs were retrieved. One cytologic slide was destained in each case. The results were compared with those obtained on histologic specimens using the paired t test.

Results: FISH was performed on 41 surgical specimens of breast carcinoma. Thirteen patients had prior FNABs that were positive for adenocarcinoma. After hybridization on destained fine needle aspiration slides, no cells were found in 2 cases, and the results were not readable in 2 cases. In the remaining 9 cases, the results, expressed as the ratio of copies of the HER-2/neu gene to copies of the chromosome 17 centromere, were 5.10, 1.14, 1.21, 1.12, 0.74, 1.11, 1.21, 9.87 and 2.4. Results on the corresponding histologic specimens were 5.25, 1.05, 1.13, 1.22, 1.13, 1.12, 1.21, 9.35 and 2.61, respectively. No significant difference was found (p = 0.23).

Conclusion: HER-2/neu amplification status by FISH can be accurately and reliably evaluated in existing archival cytologic slides.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Archives
  • Biopsy, Fine-Needle
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification / genetics*
  • Gene Dosage / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Genes, erbB-2 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Immunohistochemistry / trends
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab