Her2 Amplification Signal per nuclei?

[Debbie L.]

Does anyone know what test gives results of amplification signal per nuclei? How would these figures (see study below) compare with FISH results, for example?

Other interesting questions raised by this study would certainly include why no OS benefit. For example, did they not follow out long enough (46 months on average), or are there other things going on?

Br J Cancer. 2010 Oct 26;103(9):1335-42.
Pathological complete response and survival according to the level of HER-2 amplification after trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer.

Guiu S, Gauthier M, Coudert B, Bonnetain F, Favier L, Ladoire S, Tixier H, Guiu B, Penault-Llorca F, Ettore F, Fumoleau P, Arnould L.
Department of Oncology, Georges-François Leclerc Cancer Center, F-21000 Dijon, France.
Abstract

Background:We analysed whether the level of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) amplification significantly influenced either pathological complete response (pCR) or recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) after trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy.Methods:In all, 99 patients with an HER-2-amplified breast tumour treated with trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy were included. Tumours were classified as low amplified (LA; 6-10 signals per nuclei) or highly amplified (HA; >10 signals). Pathological response was assessed according to Chevallier's classification (pCR was defined as grade 1 or 2). Median follow-up lasted 46 months (6-83). Cox uni- and multivariate analyses were performed.Results:In all, 33 tumour samples were LA and 66 were HA. The pCR in HA tumours was significantly higher than in LA tumours (55% vs 24%, P=0.005), whereas no association was found between the pCR rate and tumour stage, grade or hormone receptor status. In multivariate analysis, the pathological nodal status (P=0.005) and adjuvant trastuzumab (P=0.037) were independently associated with RFS, whereas the level of HER-2 amplification nearly reached statistical significance (P=0.057). There was no significant difference between LA and HA tumours for OS (P=0.22, log-rank).Conclusion:The level of HER-2 gene amplification significantly influenced pCR but not RFS or OS in non-metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab-based neoadjuvant therapy. However, RFS in patients with HA tumours tended to be shorter.

My path report from MDAnderson reads " Her2/neu DNA probe Kit ( LIS Her2/neu SpectrumOrange/CEP17 SpectrumGreen)
60 tumor nuclei showed an average of 10+ copies of LSI HER-2/ neu gene per nucleus and an average of 2.6 copies of CEP17 per nucleus : 3.85( normal <2.0)"

Hope this is helpful

[Jackie07]

Found the full-text:

http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v1.../6605939a.html

Thanks for bringing attention to this article/abstract. Things are changing so fast in the breast cancer/Her2 world. The advancement in the field gives me great hope...