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Evaluation of immunohistochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for HER-2/neu expression in breast carcinoma

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Abstract

HER-2 is overexpressed in approximately 20–30% of invasive Breast Cancer. ECD of the HER-2 protein is frequently cleaved and released into the circulation, where it can be detected by ELISA in up to 45% of patients with metastatic breast cancer. The objective of our study was to compare the current methods for the detection of HER-2 protein. Tissue HER-2 levels were studied in 100 breast cancer patients by IHC and compared with serum HER-2 levels by ELISA. IHC frequency was 29%. Serum HER-2 ECD was positive in 42% of patients. A statistically significant correlation was observed. HER-2 detected by IHC correlates significantly with serum HER-2 levels detected by ELISA. Thus, ELISA is a reliable and economical tool to assess the HER-2 status in tumors, when breast tissue sample is not available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Rani James, K. Thriveni, Girija Ramaswamy, Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy, Geetashree Mukherjee, P. P. Vijayalaxmi Deshmane & P. P. Bapsy

  2. Department of Pathology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, 560029, India

    Geetashree Mukherjee

  3. Department of Surgical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, 560029, India

    P. P. Vijayalaxmi Deshmane

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore, 560029, India

    P. P. Bapsy

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  1. Rani James
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  2. K. Thriveni
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  3. Girija Ramaswamy
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  4. Lakshmi Krishnamoorthy
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Correspondence to Girija Ramaswamy.

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James, R., Thriveni, K., Ramaswamy, G. et al. Evaluation of immunohistochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for HER-2/neu expression in breast carcinoma. Indian J Clin Biochem 23, 345–351 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-008-0076-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12291-008-0076-5

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