Overexpression of the HER-2 oncogene does not play a role in high-grade osteosarcomas

The aim of our study was to determine whether or not the tyrosine kinase receptor, HER2 (also known as ErbB2/Her2/neu), is overexpressed in human osteosarcomas (OS). We studied 15 biopsy and 18 resection specimens at the mRNA and protein levels. HER2 status in the OS specimens was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In moderately immunopositive cases fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) analysis was used in order to identify any possible gene amplification. 27 samples were evaluable for IHC and only 1 case showed a moderately positive membrane staining. The remaining samples showed no staining or focal cytoplasmic staining (2 samples). In the moderately positive case, FISH analysis showed no HER-2 gene amplification. There was also no overexpression of HER2 mRNA suggesting this sample was a false-positive immunostain. HER2 mRNA expression was present in all samples at a similar level to that in the breast cancer cell line, MCF7, which does not overexpress HER2 and was used as a negative control. In conclusion, this study shows that HER2 mRNA or membranous HER2 protein overexpression is absent in human OS. We noted various inconsistencies in previous published studies, with regard to methodology and the interpretation of the results based on poor methodology. We therefore conclude that the positive data with regard to HER2 overexpression reported in these previous studies is not reliable. Our results suggest that the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin(R)), directed against the HER2-receptor, is not likely to be an effective therapeutic agent in OS.