What is HER2 protein overexpression?

All these extra HER2 genes tell breast cells to make too many HER2 receptors (HER2 protein overexpression). This makes breast cells grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. Breast cancers with HER2 gene amplification or HER2 protein overexpression are called HER2-positive in the pathology report.

What causes overexpression of HER2?

Extra copies of the ERBB2 (HER2) gene (gene amplification) have been found in a number of different cancers. This causes the cancer cells to make excess HER2 (overexpression), which in turn, tells the cells to grow and divide in an uncontrolled manner.

What cancers do we see HER2 overexpression in?

Amplification or overexpression of HER2 occurs in approximately 15–30% of breast cancers and 10–30% of gastric/gastroesophageal cancers and serves as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. HER2 overexpression has also been seen in other cancers like ovary, endometrium, bladder, lung, colon, and head and neck.

How is HER2 amplification tested?

Currently, two methods of determining HER2 status are used routinely in clinical practice: immunohistochemistry (IHC), which assesses expression of the HER2 protein on the cell surface, and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH), which detects amplification of the HER2 gene (Pauletti et al, 2000; Bartlett et al, 2001 …

What does it mean if you are HER2 negative?

Describes cells that have a small amount or none of a protein called HER2 on their surface. In normal cells, HER2 helps control cell growth.

Do you need chemo if you are HER2 positive?

Trastuzumab and chemotherapy are even recommended for women with very small, HER2-positive breast cancers. Tumors as small as 0.5 cm often warrant such treatment.

Does HER2 negative require chemo?

Hormonal therapy is considered the standard initial treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that is also hormone receptor-positive, and is often given in combination with targeted therapy. However, chemotherapy may also be given. A clinical trial may also be an option for treatment at any stage.

Which is overexpression of ERBB2 or HER2 / Neu?

HER2 (ERBB2 or HER2/neu) is a tyrosine-kinase increasing cell proliferation. Overexpression/amplification of HER2 is correlated with worse prognosis in solid malignancies. Consequently, HER2 targeting is established in breast and upper gastrointestinal tract cancer.

How is HER2 gene amplification related to overall survival?

HER2 gene amplification is associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival in breast cancer. Slamon et al. established the prognostic significance of HER2 amplification in 189 human breast cancers. Amplification of HER2 gene was found to be a significant predictor of both overall survival (P< 0.001) and time to relapse (P< 0.0001).

How is HER2 overexpression related to breast cancer?

HER2 Overexpression in Cancers Most of the studies on HER2 have been carried out in breast cancer, after it was found to induce mammary carcinogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Amplification or overexpression of the HER2 gene occurs in approximately 15–30% of breast cancers.

How does HER2 overexpression affect the esophagus?

There are conflicting data concerning the impact of HER2 overexpression on esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), as most studies do not differ between cancers of the esophagus/gastroesophageal junction and the stomach.