Poster viewing and lunch

56P - Association between HER2 expression level and prognosis using RT-PCR in HER2-low breast cancer (ID 276)

Lecture Time
12:15 - 12:15
Session Name
Poster viewing and lunch
Room
Exhibition area
Date
Fri, 12.05.2023
Time
12:15 - 13:00
Speakers
  • Saeko Nakagawa (Isehara, Japan)
Authors
  • Saeko Nakagawa (Isehara, Japan)
  • Naoki Hayashi (Shinagawa-ku, Japan)
  • Yasue Tsuchida (Chuo-ku, Japan)
  • Takashi Chishima (Yokohama, Japan)
  • Takahiko Kawate (Tokyo, Japan)
  • Hiromi Fuchikami (Akishima, Japan)
  • Yasuo Miyoshi (Hyogo, Japan)
  • Takehiko Sakai (Koto-ku, Japan)
  • Haruru Kotani (Nagoya, Japan)
  • Naoto Kondo (Nagoya, Japan)
  • Mari Mizuno (Isehara, Japan)
  • Naoki Niikura (Isehara, Ka, Japan)

Abstract

Background

The variation and heterogeneity of conventional immunohistochemistry (IHC) or in situ hybridization (ISH) techniques for measuring HER2 has long been pointed out, and the method of testing for HER2 has been discussed for the selection of appropriate treatment. Therefore, we compared HER2 expression in RT-PCR using OncotypeDX have correlation with conventional IHC, and evaluated HER2 expression in RT-PCR as a prognostic factor in HER2-negative early breast cancer.

Methods

ER+/HER2- patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between 2004 and 2016 and underwent OncotypeDX testing were included. Data from 632 patients were collected and analyzed by retrospective chart review at 9 centers to determine if there was a correlation between HER2 expression by IHC and RT-PCR. HER2 expression was classified as negative, HER2-low, and positive when HER2 mRNA levels were ≤ 9.1, 9.2-11.4, and11.5≤, respectively, based on the median mRNA level in HER2 negative in IHC. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method with a log-rank test between the three groups.

Results

The median age of the 632 patients was 51 years. Of the 632 patients, 311(49.2%) were pStage I, the 309 (48.9%) were pStage II, and 11(1.7%) were pStage III. 127 (20%) patients received postoperative chemotherapy, and 54 (8.5%) patients had relapse. HER2 IHC rates were HER2 0: 166 (26.3%), 1+: 304 (48.1%), and 2+: 162 (25.6%). There was a weak correlation between the IHC and RT-PCR methods for HER2 expression (Spearman rank correlation P<0.001, r=0.33). The recurrence rates of IHC 0, 1+, and 2+ were 1.8%, 3.9%, 2.6%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in DFS between the three groups of HER2 expression by the IHC method (P=0.59). In addition, in the study of HER2 expression and prognosis by RT-PCR, the patients were divided into HER2 negative: 269, HER2-low: 357, and HER2 positive: 1. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups (P=0.832). The recurrence rates were 3.9%, 4.4%, and 0%, respectively.

Conclusions

In the analysis of HER2 expression, there was a weak correlation between IHC and RT-PCR mRNA expression levels; in the HER2-negative population, RT-PCR mRNA expression of HER2 was not a prognostic factor in early breast cancer.

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

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