Her-2/neu expression in ovarian cancer: Pre- and postexposure to platinum chemotherapy

Prema P. Peethambaram, William A. Cliby, Gregory Lubiniecki, Amy C. Clayton, Patrick C. Roche, Stephen J. Iturria, Lynn C. Hartmann, Ingegerd Hellström, Scott E. Strome

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective. Our objective was to determine if the level of Her-2/neu expression in advanced ovarian cancer changed after platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods. Tissue samples from 43 patients who had surgery for ovarian cancer between 1991 and 2001 at the Mayo Clinic were stained for Her-2/neu expression using the DAKO kit and reviewed independently by two pathologists. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data, clinical course, chemotherapy, and survival times. Results. Her-2/neu expression was 0 in 30 patients (69.76%), 1+ in 12 patients (27.9%), and 3+ in 1 patient (2.32%) before chemotherapy. After platinum chemotherapy, Her-2/neu expression changed from 0 to 1+ in 7 patients, from 1+ to 0 in 4 patients, 0 to 2+ in 1 patient, and 1+ to 2+ in 2 patients and no change was seen in 29 patients. Both pathologists agreed in all instances when the score was 0 or 1+ and disagreed in two instances between a negative and a weakly positive staining. Conclusions. Our findings indicate a low level of overexpression of Her-2/neu at the time of primary diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer. Relapsing tumors show no significant change in the intensity of Her-2/neu expression after platinum-based chemotherapy. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to ascertain whether platinum chemotherapy indeed has no effect on Her-2/neu expression.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)99-104
Number of pages6
JournalGynecologic oncology
Volume89
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2003

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Her-2/neu expression in ovarian cancer: Pre- and postexposure to platinum chemotherapy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this