Quantitation of c-erbB-2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancer Tissue by Competitive PCR

• Published in: Tumor biology 1999-05, Vol.20 (3), p.153-161
• Main Authors: Okuyama, Nobuo, Hatano, Yoshinori, Park, Youngjin, Shimatani, Shinji, Sasamoto, Shuichi, Katou, Nobuhide, Takagi, Keigo, Yamazaki, Shirou, Inoue, Akira, Hemmi, Hiromichi, Shimatake, Hiroyuki, Yanagida, Maki, Miura, Myouta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Binding, Competitive; Biological and medical sciences; Breast Neoplasms - chemistry; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - mortality; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; c-erbB-2 gene; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Gene Amplification; Genes, erbB-2; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Lymphatic Metastasis; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Menopause; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent - chemistry; Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent - genetics; Original Paper; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Receptors, Estrogen - analysis; Receptors, Progesterone - analysis; Sensitivity and Specificity; Survival Analysis; Tumors
• ISSN: 1010-4283; 1423-0380
• DOI: 10.1159/000030058

Controversy exists regarding the relationship of the degree of c-erbB-2 amplification to other prognostic factors in breast cancer. To determine the degree of amplification of c-erbB-2 exactly, a sensitive and quantitative method is required. We have developed a competitive PCR method to quantitatively determine the amplification of the c-erbB-2 oncogene. Using this method, we evaluated DNA from 27 breast cancer tissue specimens and DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes from a normal individual. Regarding the relationship between the degree of c-erbB-2 amplification and clinicopathological factors, we found a greater degree of amplification of the c-erbB-2 oncogene in estrogen receptor- negative or progesterone receptor-negative specimens than in positive ones and in lymph node metastasis-positive specimens than in negative specimens, in stages II, III, and IV of disease compared with stage I disease, and in samples with positive lymphatic vessel invasion than with no lymphatic vessel invasion. Generally, these factors were seen in the group of patients who had a bad prognosis. By univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, reverse correlation was observed between amplification of c-erbB-2 and overall survival. Regarding disease-free survival, these relationships were observed only with univariate analysis in our group of patients.