RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Tissue Expression and Serum Levels of the Oncoprotein HER-2/neu in 157 Primary Breast Tumours JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 1433 OP 1440 VO 25 IS 2B A1 PALLUD, C. A1 GUINEBRETIERE, J.M. A1 GUEPRATTE, S. A1 HACENE, K. A1 NEUMANN, R. A1 CARNEY, W. A1 PICHON, M.F. YR 2005 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/25/2B/1433.abstract AB Background: We studied HER-2 expression in paired serum and tissue samples, in 157 selected cases from 701 consecutive primary breast cancer patients with pre-treatment HER-2 extracellular domain (ECD) ≥ 10 ng/ml, or < 10 ng/ml but showing a HER-2 ECD lead time before first metastasis. Patients and Methods: HER-2 ECD was measured by the Immuno 1 automated ELISA (Bayer). Tumour tissue was analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) with Dako A 0485 and CB 11 antibodies and scored with the Dako scoring system. Results: Mean HER-2 ECD was 12.48±7.08 ng/ml and 21/157 (13.4%) sera were ≥ 15 ng/ml (cut-off). Forty tumours (25.48%) showed both invasive and intraductal components, 3 (1.91%) were pure in situ carcinomas and 114 (72.61%) were pure invasive tumours. Elevated HER-2 ECD concentration was related only to pT (p=0.0008), histological grade (p=0.0465), presence of comedonecrosis (p=0.0123) or comedo-type carcinoma (p=0.041) and was unrelated to the presence of an intraductal component. HER-2 ECD was ≥ 15 ng/ml in 48% of Dako 3+ and 60% of CB 11 2+ and 3+ tumours. By logistic regression analysis, the significant parameters associated with HER-2 ECD concentration were pT (p=0.0038) and Dako 3+ scores (p=0.0005). In Dako 3+ or CB 11 2+3+ tumours, elevated mean HER-2 ECD concentrations were observed only when pT exceeded 28-30 mm (p=0.0062 and p=0.0036, respectively). Conclusion: In breast tumours, a threshold in size and HER-2 overexpression is necessary to observe elevated concentrations of HER-2 ECD at diagnosis. This information may be useful when the primary tumour is not available for IHC. Copyright© 2005 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved