HER2 oncogene amplification in extramammary Paget's disease

Abstract

Aims: To study HER2 oncogene amplification and over-expression in skin samples of 23 patients with extramammary Paget's disease (EMP). EMP is a rare intra-epidermal adenocarcinoma, which has been reported to over-express the HER2 oncoprotein.

Methods and results: HER2 gene amplification, detected by chromogenic in-situ hybridization, was found in 43% (10/23) of the lesions. HER2 protein over-expression (3+ immunostaining intensity) was found in 12 tumours (52%), including all 10 tumours with gene amplification. Two tumours showed low-level (2+) HER2 immunostaining. Mammary Paget's lesions, which were used as controls, showed HER2 amplification and over-expression in all 10 cases studied.

Conclusions: These results indicate that HER-2 protein over-expression in EMP is common and due exclusively to gene amplification. They open up the possibility of HER2-targetted immunotherapy for patients with HER2+ disease.