HER2 Gene Amplification Testing by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH): Comparison of the ASCO-College of American Pathologists Guidelines With FISH Scores Used for Enrollment in Breast Cancer International Research Group Clinical Trials.

Purpose ASCO and the College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) recently recommended further changes to the evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene (HER2) amplification by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We retrospectively assessed the impact of these new guidelines by using annotated Breast Cancer International Research Group (BCIRG) -005, BCIRG-006, and BCIRG-007 clinical trials data for which we have detailed outcomes. Patients and Methods The HER2 FISH status of BCIRG-005/006/007 patients with breast cancers was re-evaluated according to current ASCO-CAP guidelines, which designates five different groups according to HER2 FISH ratio and average HER2 gene copy number per tumor cell: group 1 (in situ hybridization [ISH]-positive): HER2-to-chromosome 17 centromere ratio ≥ 2.

Tissue Microarrays.

Modern next-generation sequencing and microarray technologies allow for the simultaneous analysis of all human genes on the DNA, RNA, miRNA, and methylation RNA level. Studies using such techniques have lead to the identification of hundreds of genes with a potential role in cancer or other diseases. The validation of all of these candidate genes requires in situ analysis of high numbers of clinical tissues samples.

Loss of RNA-binding motif protein 3 expression is associated with right-sided localization and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer.

Aims: RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) has recently been suggested as a prognostic biomarker in an array of human cancers. This study aimed to examine its effects in colorectal cancers.

Methods And Results: RBM3 expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry on a tissue microarray containing 1800 colorectal cancers (CRCs).

Prognostic relevance of Bcl-2 overexpression in surgically treated prostate cancer is not caused by increased copy number or translocation of the gene.

Background: Overexpression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 plays a role in prostate cancer progression, particularly in transformation to androgen-independent disease. Androgen-independent prostate cancers have been shown to harbor Bcl-2 gene copy number gains frequently suggesting that this genetic alteration might play a role in Bcl-2 overexpression. The relation of Bcl-2 overexpression and copy number gains or translocation of the BCL-2 gene in prostate cancer under hormone-naïve conditions is unknown.

The impact of the number of cores on tissue microarray studies investigating prostate cancer biomarkers.

Most tissue microarray studies have used a single 0.6-mm tissue core per donor tissue. It has been suggested that multiple cores per donor can increase the representativity of tissue microarray studies.