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Comparative Study
. 2011 Jul;59(1):8-17.
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2011.03894.x.

Hybridization for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in gastric carcinoma: a comparison of fluorescence in-situ hybridization with a novel fully automated dual-colour silver in-situ hybridization method

Elena García-García  1 , Carlos Gómez-Martín, Bárbara Angulo, Esther Conde, Ana Suárez-Gauthier, Magdalena Adrados, Cristian Perna, José Luis Rodríguez-Peralto, Manuel Hidalgo, Fernando López-Ríos
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Comparative Study

Hybridization for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in gastric carcinoma: a comparison of fluorescence in-situ hybridization with a novel fully automated dual-colour silver in-situ hybridization method

Elena García-García et al. Histopathology. 2011 Jul.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Aims: Amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene has been reported in gastric carcinoma (GC). Accordingly, trastuzumab plus chemotherapy has recently become the new standard treatment for HER2-positive advanced GCs. The aim was to compare the alleged gold standard for hybridization [fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH)] with a novel, fully automated brightfield dual-colour silver-enhanced in-situ hybridization (SISH) method.

Methods and results: The studies series was comprised of 166 GC samples. Additionally, tumours with discordant results obtained by FISH and SISH were analysed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the LightMix kit HER-2/neu. Of the samples, 17.5% and 21% were amplified by FISH and SISH, respectively. Heterogeneity was identified in up to 52% of cases. In 96.4% of cases, FISH showed the same results as SISH. All six discordant cases were positive by SISH and negative by FISH. On review of the FISH slides, all contradictory cases were polysomic and were confirmed to be negative for amplification by real-time PCR. Interestingly, all ratios in this latter group were between 2.06 and 2.50, so setting the cut-off for amplification at ≥3 resulted in perfect concordance.

Conclusions: Dual-colour SISH represents a novel method for the determination of HER2 status in GC.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gastric carcinoma with HER2 amplification. A,B, amplification in clusters by (A) fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and (B) silver-enhanced in-situ hybridization (SISH). C,D, amplification in a double minute pattern by (C) FISH and (D) SISH.
Figure 2
Figure 2
In-situ hybridization of HER2 in gastric carcinoma. A,B Non-amplified case by (A) fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and (B) silver-enhanced in-situ hybridization (SISH). C,D, Chromosome 17 polysomy by (C) FISH and (D) SISH.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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