Clinicopathologic features of breast cancer reclassified as HER2-amplified by fluorescence in situ hybridization with alternative chromosome 17 probes.

OBJECTIVE

Dual probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays for determination of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification in breast cancer provide a ratio of HER2 to chromosome 17. The ratio may be skewed by copy number alterations (CNA) in the control locus for chromosome 17 (CEP17). We analyzed the impact of alternative chromosome 17 control probes on HER2 status in a series of breast cancers with an emphasis on patients reclassified as amplified.

METHODS

Breast cancer patients with equivocal HER2 immunohistochemistry (2+) and equivocal FISH with CEP17 were included. Reclassification of HER2 status was assessed with alternative chromosome 17 control probes (LIS1 and RARA).

RESULTS

A total of 40 unique patients with 46 specimens reflexed to alternative chromosome 17 probe testing were identified. The majority (>80%) of patients had pT1-2, hormone receptor-positive tumors with an intermediate or high combined histologic grade. There were 34/46 (73.9%) specimens reclassified as amplified with alternative probes, corresponding to 29/40 (72.5%) patients. Of the patients reclassified as amplified with alternative probes, 34.5% (10/29) received HER2-targeted therapy.

CONCLUSION

In this series, the majority of breast cancers tested with alternative chromosome 17 control probes under the 2013 ASCO/CAP Guidelines were converted to HER2-amplified. The treatment data and the clinicopathologic profile of the tumors suggest that most of these patients will neither receive nor benefit from HER2-targeted therapy. The findings support the recommendation in the 2018 ASCO/CAP HER2 Guidelines to discontinue the use of alternative chromosome 17 probes.