%0 Journal Article
%T Metaplastic breast carcinomas exhibit EGFR, but not HER2, gene amplification and overexpression: immunohistochemical and chromogenic in situ hybridization analysis
%A Jorge S Reis-Filho
%A Fernanda Milanezi
%A Silvia Carvalho
%A Pete T Simpson
%A Dawn Steele
%A Kay Savage
%A Maryou BK Lambros
%A Emilio M Pereira
%A Jahn M Nesland
%A Sunil R Lakhani
%A Fernando C Schmitt
%J Breast Cancer Research
%D 2005
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/bcr1341
%X Twenty-five metaplastic breast carcinomas were immunohistochemically analyzed using a monoclonal antibody (31G7) for EGFR and two antibodies for HER2 (Herceptest and CB11) and scored using the Herceptest scoring system. Gene amplification was evaluated by chromogenic in situ hybridization using Zymed Spot-Light EGFR and HER2 amplification probe. The results were evaluated by bright field microscopy under 40กม and 63กม objective lenses.Nineteen (76%) metaplastic breast carcinomas exhibited EGFR ovexpression, and among these EGFR amplification (defined either by large gene clusters or >5 signals/nucleus in >50% of neoplastic cells) was detected in seven cases (37%): three carcinomas with squamous differentiation and four spindle cell carcinomas. One case exhibited HER2 overexpression of grade 2+ (>10% of cells with weak to moderate complete membrane staining), but HER2 gene amplification was not detected.Metaplastic breast carcinomas frequently overexpressed EGFR, which was associated with EGFR gene amplification in one-third of cases. Our findings suggest that some patients with metaplastic breast carcinomas might benefit from novel therapies targeting EGFR. Because most metaplastic breast carcinomas overexpress EGFR without gene amplification, further studies to evaluate EGFR activating mutations are warranted.In recent years, the family of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) or ERBB receptors has attracted great attention in the literature [1]. This family includes four tyrosine kinase receptors: EGFR (HER1/c-erbB1), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2/neu (c-erbB2), HER3 (c-erbB3) and HER4(c-erbB4). All members of this family are characterized by an extracellular ligand-binding region, a single membrane spanning region, and a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase containing domain [1]. Although expression of the four members of the ERBB family has been studied in several types of human tumours [1], only EGFR and HER2 have been proven to play major roles in dif
%U http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/7/6/R1028