Detection of HER-2/neu alterations is increasingly used in breast cancer patients for therapeutic purposes. This study examines the reliability of HER-2/neu immunocytochemical assessment on 66 cytospin smears obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy from breast cancer patients. Results were compared with those obtained by both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on fine-needle aspirate (FNA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on matched histologic section. Concordance between immunocytochemistry (ICC) and FISH was 78\% and between ICC and IHC was 84\%. Discordance mainly concerned seven unamplified cases that resulted positive by ICC and four cases scored negative by IHC but positive by ICC. Simultaneous assessment of HER-2/neu by ICC, IHC, and FISH was available in 24 cases; the concordance was 75\%. In this study, the false positivity of immunocytochemical technique represents the major criticism. In our experience, FISH remains the most objective and powerful technique for HER-2/neu assessment on breast cancer FNAs.
Immunocytochemical evaluation of HER-2/neu on fine-needle aspirates from primary breast carcinomas / R., Nizzoli; C., Bozzetti; P., Crafa; N., Naldi; A., Guazzi; B. D., Blasio; R., Camisa; Cascinu, Stefano. - In: DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY. - ISSN 8755-1039. - 28:(2003), pp. 142-146. [10.1002/dc.10257]
Immunocytochemical evaluation of HER-2/neu on fine-needle aspirates from primary breast carcinomas.
CASCINU, Stefano
2003-01-01
Abstract
Detection of HER-2/neu alterations is increasingly used in breast cancer patients for therapeutic purposes. This study examines the reliability of HER-2/neu immunocytochemical assessment on 66 cytospin smears obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy from breast cancer patients. Results were compared with those obtained by both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on fine-needle aspirate (FNA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on matched histologic section. Concordance between immunocytochemistry (ICC) and FISH was 78\% and between ICC and IHC was 84\%. Discordance mainly concerned seven unamplified cases that resulted positive by ICC and four cases scored negative by IHC but positive by ICC. Simultaneous assessment of HER-2/neu by ICC, IHC, and FISH was available in 24 cases; the concordance was 75\%. In this study, the false positivity of immunocytochemical technique represents the major criticism. In our experience, FISH remains the most objective and powerful technique for HER-2/neu assessment on breast cancer FNAs.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
