Long-term prognostic significance of HER-2/neu in untreated node-negative breast cancer depends on the method of testing.

Introduction: The prognostic significance of HER-2/neu in breast cancer is a matter of controversy. We have performed a study in 101 node-negative breast cancer patients with long-term follow-up not treated in the adjuvant setting, and analysed the prognostic significance of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), both separately and in combination, in comparison with traditional prognostic factors.

Methods: Overexpression was classified semiquantitatively according to a score (0 to 3+) (HER-2_SCO).