HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - What does non-amplified mean?

Lani · 03-05-2007, 07:02 PM

the 2+ is by immunohistochemistry and measures the protein level of the ERBB2 (aka her2) receptor

the FISH test is a measure of the copies of the gene, rather than the protein.

Amplification refers to the fact that there are FAR TOO MANY copies of the gene, as if a broken record keeps playing the same phrase over and over again the gene keeps repeating itself.

Herceptin has been found to work in those who are FISH positive, so usually those who are her2 + are tested to see if they are FISH positive or not to see whether to recommend herceptin. (FISH testing takes more expertise and is more expensive, so often only the immunohistochemistry test is done first in order to avoid having to do FISH on all biopsy samples)

Hope this helps

03-05-2007, 07:02 PM	#3
Lani Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,782	her2 2+with a negative FISH is non-amplified the 2+ is by immunohistochemistry and measures the protein level of the ERBB2 (aka her2) receptor the FISH test is a measure of the copies of the gene, rather than the protein. Amplification refers to the fact that there are FAR TOO MANY copies of the gene, as if a broken record keeps playing the same phrase over and over again the gene keeps repeating itself. Herceptin has been found to work in those who are FISH positive, so usually those who are her2 + are tested to see if they are FISH positive or not to see whether to recommend herceptin. (FISH testing takes more expertise and is more expensive, so often only the immunohistochemistry test is done first in order to avoid having to do FISH on all biopsy samples) Hope this helps