Objective: We explore the problems associated with the cell block (CB) method for receptor analysis in breast cancer metastases and propose a method for reporting the results.
Study Design: Nine institutions used the CB method for the analysis of hormone receptors (HRs) and HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) protein in cytological specimens of breast cancer metastases in routine practice. The stained slides were independently evaluated by 8 pathologists. Dual in situ hybridization assay was performed in cases of discordant results for HER2 protein. Based on the results, we propose a method for receptor scoring in the CB method.
Results: Of 61 specimens, 57 contained tumor cells. Two or more pathologists disagreed on the results for the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 protein in 3 (5.3%), 13 (22.8%), and 19 (33.3%) cases, respectively. The discrepant results for the HRs were attributed to the presence of a few positive cells or faintly stained cells. The high interobserver discordance rate for HER2 protein was explained by interobserver differences in the scoring criteria.
Conclusion: The use of categorical scoring into positive and negative is recommended for evaluating the HR expressions. Use of strict criteria for HER2 protein 2+ and 3+ cases is recommended, as HER2-positive cases should not be missed.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6159834 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000488382 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Background: Immunotherapy is increasingly significant in treating metastatic gastric cancer. This prospective phase 2 study investigates the efficacy and safety of combining nivolumab with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic gastric cancer co-expressing FGFR2 and PD-L1.
Methods: Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, with previously untreated HER-2 negative, PD-L1 positive, and FGFR2 positive metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma.
pH-sensitive phthalocyanine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles as a novel treatment strategy for breast cancer.
Bioorg Chem
January 2025
Department of Systems Biology and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland; A. Chełkowski Institute of Physics, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1a, 41-500 Chorzów, Poland. Electronic address:
Novel pH-sensitive polymeric photosensitizer carriers from the phthalocyanine (Pc) group were investigated as potential photodynamic therapy drugs for the treatment of breast cancer. Their high antiproliferative activity was confirmed by photocytotoxicity studies, which indicated their high efficacy and specificity toward the SK-BR-3 cell line. Importantly, the Pcs encapsulated in the polymeric nanoparticle (NP) carrier exhibited a much better penetration into the acidic environment of tumor cells than their free form.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssociation of Proteasome Activity and Pool Heterogeneity with Markers Determining the Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer.
Cancers (Basel)
January 2025
Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia.
Background: Proteasomes degrade intracellular proteins. Different proteasome forms were identified. Proteasome inhibitors are used in cancer therapy, and novel drugs directed to specific proteasome forms are developed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntibody-Drug Conjugates in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: State of the Art and Future Perspectives.
Int J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent one of the most promising and rapidly emerging anti-cancer therapies because they combine the cytotoxic effect of the conjugate payload and the high selectivity of the monoclonal antibody, which binds a specific membrane antigen expressed by the tumor cells. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ADCs are being investigated targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (), human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (), trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (), Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (), and carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 (). To date, Trastuzumab deruxtecan is the only ADC that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of patients with NSCLC, but several ongoing studies, both using ADCs as monotherapy and combined with other therapies, are investigating the efficacy of new ADCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExploring the heterogeneity of HER2 gene status and expression in non-positive breast cancer patients: insights from immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Diagn Pathol
January 2025
Pathology Department, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1277, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei Province, China.
Breast cancer became the most prevalent malignancy among women, and HER2 expression status is critical for treatment decisions. With the emergence of ADC drugs, HER2 low-expressing patients who previously did not respond well to traditional anti-HER2 therapies may now benefit. In this study, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were applied to assess HER2 expression in 349 patients with HER2-non-positive breast cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!