Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026
11:34
Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
Published on: December 5, 2017
Implications of HER2 amplification in small, node-negative breast cancers: do Asians differ?
Fuh Yong Wong1, Connie Siew Poh Yip, Eu Tiong Chua
1Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore, 169610, Singapore. ntrwfy@gmail.com
World Journal of Surgery
|November 23, 2011
Summary
HER2 amplification in small, node-negative breast cancer is linked to worse outcomes in Asian women in low- and middle-income countries. Treatment decisions for HER2-amplified tumors require careful consideration of cost and effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigated HER2 amplification in Asian women with small, node-negative breast cancer.
- Focused on patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prognostic implications of HER2 amplification in this specific patient population.
- To evaluate survival outcomes and recurrence rates based on HER2 status.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 519 patients with node-negative breast cancer (≤ 2 cm) treated between 1989-2009.
- Kaplan-Meier analysis for disease-free survival (DFS), ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), distant disease-free survival (DDFS), and overall survival (OS).
- Multivariate analysis to identify independent prognostic factors.
Main Results:
- HER2 amplification found in 17.1% of patients.
- HER2 amplification significantly associated with poorer 5-year DFS, DDFS, and higher IBTR rates (P < 0.0001).
- Multivariate analysis confirmed HER2 amplification as a negative prognostic factor for DFS, DDFS, and IBTR.
Conclusions:
- HER2 amplification is a significant negative prognostic indicator in small, node-negative breast cancer.
- Trastuzumab use in HER2-amplified pT1ab tumors requires balancing poor outcomes with financial constraints in LMCs.
- Need for refined patient selection and exploration of resource-sensitive treatment regimens.
