HER 2 equiv and polysomy 17

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Triciaski
Triciaski Member Posts: 145
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

There doesn't seem to be a perfect place to post this, and I apologize if I am off topic in the HER2+ forum, but this information could be extremely helpful to those whose HER2 status is equivocal (meaning in the range of 1.8 and 2.2 on FISH). If there is a more appropriate place to post, please let me know.

A number of articles speak about another factor, polysomy 17, being the probable cause of HER2 equivocal. If your test results fall into the gray area, I think you'll find these articles helpful in understanding the difference between HER2 overexpression, which = HER2+ and polysomy 17, which research so for shows to be a different beast entirely.

Recent article (Septmeber 08) from the Journal of Clinical Oncology: http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/full/26/30/4856

Short and easy to understand: http://www.faslodex.net/77740?itemId=3679858

I would like to thank Rescue07 for posting this article in a different thread, which got me interested in research the topic further.

http://www.oncologystat.com/journals/journal_scans/Polysomy_17_in_Breast_Cancer_Clinicopathologic_Significance_and_Impact_on_HER2_Testing.html

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited February 2009

    Hi Tricia,

    This is helpful.  Thanks for keeping us informed.

    I'm curious, with HER2 equivocal, did they give you herceptin?

    Thanks again for the articles. 

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  • Triciaski
    Triciaski Member Posts: 145
    edited February 2009

    I haven't yet started chemo, but with an equivocal HER2 of 1.8, I would not be a candidate to receive Herceptin. (The equivocal range is between 1.8 and 2.2, and a minimum of 2.0 is required for Herceptin.)

    The research I posted in this forum provides a possible explanation for equivocals (i.e., polysomy 17), which hasn't been shown to benefit from Herceptin, so I feel more comfortable about not being eligible for Herceptin.

    Tricia

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  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited February 2009

    Hi Tricia,

    You're probably fine without the Herceptin for the reasons outlined in articles you referenced.  But just to be sure -  have they considered a retest (maybe with IHC) just to be positive.  I hate for them to make major decisions on your treatment by relying on one test.

    I'd push for a retest so you can be sure you're not really HER2+.

    Jackie 

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