Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
Published on: December 5, 2017
Amplification and overexpression of HER-2/neu are uncommon in advanced stage melanoma
D L Persons1, D A Arber, J A Sosman
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7232, USA. dpersons@kumc.edu
Abstract:
The HER-2/neu proto-oncogene is a useful prognostic and predictive biomarker in breast cancer. In addition, use of a humanized monoclonal antibody against HER-2/neu has recently been shown to have efficacy in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. In order to examine the potential of HER-2/neu as a biomarker and as a target for HER-2/neu monoclonal antibody treatment in melanoma, we examined the HER-2/neu status in 40 advanced stage melanomas. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization for determining the gene amplification status and immunohistochemistry for detecting protein overexpression, we found that only one out of 40 cases of melanoma had an altered HER-2/neu status. These results demonstrated that HER-2/neu amplification and overexpression are not common in advanced stage melanoma and thus, HER-2/neu would have limited value as a biomarker or as a target for immunotherapy in melanoma.
Related Concept Videos
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Abnormal Proliferation
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Tumor Progression
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
Skin Cancer
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...

