Real time RT-PCR approach for the evaluation of ERBB2 overexpression in breast cancer archival samples: a comparative study with FISH, SISH, and immunohistochemistry.

We tested the reliability of real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions as an alternative method for the assessment of ERBB2 status in paraffin-embedded tissues of 83 patients with breast cancer and 20 non-neoplastic controls. PCR was also compared with the immunohistochemical (IHC) HercepTest score and with fluorescence (FISH) and silver (SISH) in-situ hybridization, in 42 selected cases. ERBB2 mRNA was overexpressed in 26/83 (31%) breast cancer samples, using a cutoff calculated as the mean value of the controls plus 3 SD or with the receiver operating curve.

Thorough intraoperative analysis of breast sentinel lymph node biopsies: histologic and immunohistochemical findings.

Background: We report the use of a thorough intraoperative sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy screening procedure for patients with small N0 breast tumors.

Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive female patients with monofocal stage I or "small" stage II (ie, 2.1-3.