ABSTRACT
Objectives: The purpose of the study is to investigate p16 protein expression and promoter methylation of p16 gene and their association with molecular subtypes based on parameter such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Materials and Methods: A total of 114 breast cancer tissue biopsies were collected for methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. Results: Seven tissue microarrays were constructed. p16 protein expression was studied in 114 cases, of which 35/114 (30.7%) cases showed strong expression and the majority of them had ER-positive tumor (57.6%), and it was statistically significant (P < 0.0074). Similarly, p16 expression was reduced in the majority of PR-negative tumors (83.9%) and the association was statistically significant (P = 0.0026). p16 methylation was studied in 114 cases and was positive in 71.0% cases. Conclusion: High p16 protein expression was associated with ER-positive, PR-negative, and HER2-negative tumors which is associated with poor prognosis. p16 protein expression may be used as a prognostic indicator to predict treatment response to hormonal therapy.
ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer plays major public health in Egyptian women. In upper Egypt, There is an increase in the incidence of breast cancer compared to other Egyptian areas without know the reasons. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of HER-2/neu status as one of the important markers to classify the women suffering from breast cancer in upper Egypt and monitoring the responsiveness to different therapies. Settings and Design: The present study was performed on 67 female breast cancer patients in the South Egypt Cancer Institute to evaluate HER-2/neu gene amplification and expression. Patients and Methods: Tissue samples were used for immunohistological analysis of endocrine receptors, HER-2/neu, and HER-2/neu gene amplification. In addition, the blood samples were also used to determine HER-2/neu gene expression. Statistical Analysis: All statistical analyses were performed using Chi-square test. The statistical difference is considered statistically significant at P < 0.05. Results: There was a statistically significant association between HER-2/neu gene expression and the age of patients. There is decrease in the level of HER-2/neu mRNA expression in group treated with chemotherapy and group treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy compared to each group baseline level of HER-2/neu mRNA expression before treatment. On the contrary, the group treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy revealed increase on the level of HER-2/neu mRNA expression when compared with their baseline for the same patients before treatment. Conclusion: We need further studies on the large group of upper Egypt breast cancer patients to confirm that the level of HER-2/neu mRNA expression can be used as a marker for classified them and their response to different treatment
ABSTRACT
Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)/neuprotooncogene (neu) is a proven molecular prognostic marker in breast, ovarian, gastric, and ovarian cancers. In head-and-neck cancers, varied expression is documented and therefore its prognostic role is debatable. Aim of the Study: To find the rate of overexpression of HER2/neu in head-and-neck cancers and to understand its prognostic role by evaluating its association with nodal stage and overall stage of the patient. Methodology: A total of 70 surgically resected cases of head-and-neck cancers were evaluated for expression of HER2/neu by immunohistochemistry. Scoring was done according to the American Society of Clinical Oncologists/College of American Pathologistsguidelines for Her2/neu testing in breast cancer. Results: Of the 70 cases studied, 57 were of oral cavity and 13 were laryngeal squamous cell cancers and 14 (20%) were Her2/neu positive. On correlating the expression of HER2/neu in T1/T2 (41 cases) versus T3/T4 (27 cases), the P value was found to be 0.8273 which was statistically insignificant. Furthermore, no statistically significant difference in expression of HER2/neu was found in between node negative and node positive cases (49 vs. 19 cases, respectively), with P = 0.512. Conclusion: In the current settings, HER2/neu is not found to be a prognostic marker in head-and-neck cancers. Standard immunohistochemistry staining protocols need to be established like in breast cancers to aid uniform reporting and further evaluate the role of this important protooncogene in head-and-neck cancers.
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Context: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) is a common malignancy with high mortality-rate. Analysis of molecular markers could form a foundation for the future use of targeted therapies to reduce morbidity and mortality. Aims: To fi nd the prevalence and relation of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) protein expression with histological type and grade of GAC using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Materials and Methods: A total of 100 cases of GAC diagnosed over a 2 year period were studied. Expression of E-cadherin and HER-2/neu was analyzed by IHC in relation to the histological type and grade. Results: Of the 100 cases of GAC studied, 11 revealed a loss of E-cadherin and over-expression of HER-2/neu was seen in 17 cases. Loss of E-cadherin was seen in 50% of signet ring-cell carcinomas but only in 8% of tubular and none of papillary and mucin-secreting GAC (P = 0.003). Of all the cases of tubular GAC with loss of E-cadherin expression, majority (71.4%) were Grade III (P = 0.04). Of all the tubular GAC cases with an over-expression of HER-2/neu, 20% and 67% were Grade I and II GAC respectively while only 13% were Grade III (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although poorly-differentiated tumors show loss of E-cadherin, better-differentiated tumors over-express HER-2/neu protein. Signet ring-cell carcinoma is more likely to exhibit a loss of E-cadherin protein. Targeted therapy toward HER-2/neu in GAC should be considered. Novel therapy to block E-cadherin down-regulation is justified.
ABSTRACT
Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) is a common malignancy in human digestive system.The lethality of BTC is essentially attributed to the asymptomatic growth of BTC and the lack of effective diagnostic options.The disease is therefore usually detected at an advanced stage and lost the opportunity of surgical therapy.Conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been notably ineffective against BTC.There is now a real and urgent need to focus on developing novel and potent therapeutic strategies against BTC.Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu (HER2/neu) is a member of the ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase family.HER2/neu is associated with tumor proliferation,invasion,and metastasis that would impact in a significant way on clinical outcome.HER/neu may become a new therapy target of BTC.