Abstract
Objectives Reliable assessment of estrogen, progesterone (ER and PR), and HER2 receptor status are essential in breast cancer (BC) treatment. Immunohistochemical methods are limited by intra- and inter-laboratory variability. Furthermore, current methods are not the ideal approach for reproducing the biological continuum of ER, PR, and HER2 receptor levels, due to their intrinsic, semi-quantitative nature, relying in part on subjective interpretation. Methods In the present study, we tested a molecular approach to define ER, PR, and HER2 status in fine-needle-aspirate (FNA) samples from patients with early BC. We performed flow cytometry analysis on 88 FNA specimens from suspect BC patients to determine cellularity. We used quantitative Real Time PCR (QRT-PCR) to assess ER, PR, HER2 status, and qPCR for HER2 gene copy number (GCN). Results ER and PR mRNA levels showed a highly significant correlation with IHC data on surgical samples. qPCR showed greater accuracy than IHC in defining HER2 status. QRT-PCR defined better than IHC the continuous spectrum of the expression of the assessed receptors. Moreover, PCR analysis demonstrated a strict correlation between HER2 status and higher levels of its transcript, correctly stratifying HER2 + and HER2 - patients. Finally, there was a strongly significant agreement between HER2 GCN assessed on FNA specimens by qPCR and FISH data obtained on pathological tissue specimens. Conclusions The present results support a comprehensive approach to determine ER, PR, and HER2 status by PCR (QRT-PCR and qPCR) in FNA specimens, with high relevance for therapeutic strategies like neoadjuvant treatment.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 389-396 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Gynecologic Oncology |
| Volume | 132 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2014 |
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Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Fine needle aspiration
- HER2
- Hormonal receptors
- PCR
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Oncology
Cite this
Quantitative Real Time PCR assessment of hormonal receptors and HER2 status on fine-needle aspiration pre-operatory specimens from a prospectively accrued cohort of women with suspect breast malignant lesions. / Garuti, Anna; Rocco, Ilaria; Cirmena, Gabriella; Chiaramondia, Maurizio; Baccini, Paola; Calabrese, Massimo; Palermo, Claudia; Friedman, Daniele; Zoppoli, Gabriele; Ballestrero, Alberto.
In: Gynecologic Oncology, Vol. 132, No. 2, 02.2014, p. 389-396.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantitative Real Time PCR assessment of hormonal receptors and HER2 status on fine-needle aspiration pre-operatory specimens from a prospectively accrued cohort of women with suspect breast malignant lesions
AU - Garuti, Anna
AU - Rocco, Ilaria
AU - Cirmena, Gabriella
AU - Chiaramondia, Maurizio
AU - Baccini, Paola
AU - Calabrese, Massimo
AU - Palermo, Claudia
AU - Friedman, Daniele
AU - Zoppoli, Gabriele
AU - Ballestrero, Alberto
PY - 2014/2
Y1 - 2014/2
N2 - Objectives Reliable assessment of estrogen, progesterone (ER and PR), and HER2 receptor status are essential in breast cancer (BC) treatment. Immunohistochemical methods are limited by intra- and inter-laboratory variability. Furthermore, current methods are not the ideal approach for reproducing the biological continuum of ER, PR, and HER2 receptor levels, due to their intrinsic, semi-quantitative nature, relying in part on subjective interpretation. Methods In the present study, we tested a molecular approach to define ER, PR, and HER2 status in fine-needle-aspirate (FNA) samples from patients with early BC. We performed flow cytometry analysis on 88 FNA specimens from suspect BC patients to determine cellularity. We used quantitative Real Time PCR (QRT-PCR) to assess ER, PR, HER2 status, and qPCR for HER2 gene copy number (GCN). Results ER and PR mRNA levels showed a highly significant correlation with IHC data on surgical samples. qPCR showed greater accuracy than IHC in defining HER2 status. QRT-PCR defined better than IHC the continuous spectrum of the expression of the assessed receptors. Moreover, PCR analysis demonstrated a strict correlation between HER2 status and higher levels of its transcript, correctly stratifying HER2 + and HER2 - patients. Finally, there was a strongly significant agreement between HER2 GCN assessed on FNA specimens by qPCR and FISH data obtained on pathological tissue specimens. Conclusions The present results support a comprehensive approach to determine ER, PR, and HER2 status by PCR (QRT-PCR and qPCR) in FNA specimens, with high relevance for therapeutic strategies like neoadjuvant treatment.
AB - Objectives Reliable assessment of estrogen, progesterone (ER and PR), and HER2 receptor status are essential in breast cancer (BC) treatment. Immunohistochemical methods are limited by intra- and inter-laboratory variability. Furthermore, current methods are not the ideal approach for reproducing the biological continuum of ER, PR, and HER2 receptor levels, due to their intrinsic, semi-quantitative nature, relying in part on subjective interpretation. Methods In the present study, we tested a molecular approach to define ER, PR, and HER2 status in fine-needle-aspirate (FNA) samples from patients with early BC. We performed flow cytometry analysis on 88 FNA specimens from suspect BC patients to determine cellularity. We used quantitative Real Time PCR (QRT-PCR) to assess ER, PR, HER2 status, and qPCR for HER2 gene copy number (GCN). Results ER and PR mRNA levels showed a highly significant correlation with IHC data on surgical samples. qPCR showed greater accuracy than IHC in defining HER2 status. QRT-PCR defined better than IHC the continuous spectrum of the expression of the assessed receptors. Moreover, PCR analysis demonstrated a strict correlation between HER2 status and higher levels of its transcript, correctly stratifying HER2 + and HER2 - patients. Finally, there was a strongly significant agreement between HER2 GCN assessed on FNA specimens by qPCR and FISH data obtained on pathological tissue specimens. Conclusions The present results support a comprehensive approach to determine ER, PR, and HER2 status by PCR (QRT-PCR and qPCR) in FNA specimens, with high relevance for therapeutic strategies like neoadjuvant treatment.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Fine needle aspiration
KW - HER2
KW - Hormonal receptors
KW - PCR
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84894060726&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84894060726&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.11.020
DO - 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.11.020
M3 - Article
C2 - 24269902
AN - SCOPUS:84894060726
VL - 132
SP - 389
EP - 396
JO - Gynecologic Oncology
JF - Gynecologic Oncology
SN - 0090-8258
IS - 2
ER -