Atallah N M, Makhlouf S, Nabil M, Ibrahim A, Toss M S, Mongan N P, Rakha E
Translational Medical Science, School of Medicine, The University of Nottingham and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt.
Cancer Med. 2025 Apr;14(8):e70852. doi: 10.1002/cam4.70852.
INTRODUCTION: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2-positive) breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease. In this study, we hypothesised that the degree of HER2 oncogenic activity, and hence response to anti-HER2 therapy is translated into a morphological signature that can be of prognostic/predictive value. METHODS: We developed a HER2-driven signature based on a set of morphometric features identified through digital image analysis and visual assessment in a sizable cohort of BC patients. HER2-enriched molecular sub-type (HER2-E) was used for validation, and pathway enrichment analysis was performed to assess HER2 pathway activity in the signature-positive cases. The predictive utility of this signature was evaluated in post-adjuvant HER2-positive BC patients. RESULTS: A total of 57 morphometric features were evaluated; of them, 22 features were significantly associated with HER2 positivity. HER2 IHC score 3+/oestrogen receptor-negative tumours were significantly associated with HER2-related morphometric features compared to other HER2 classes including HER2 IHC 2+ with gene amplification, and they showed the least intra-tumour morphological heterogeneity. Tumours displaying HER2-driven morphometric signature showed the strongest association with PAM50 HER2-E sub-type and were enriched with ERBB signalling pathway compared to signature-negative cases. BC patients with positive HER2 morphometric signature showed prolonged distant metastasis-free survival post-adjuvant anti-HER2 therapy (p = 0.007). The clinico-morphometric prognostic index demonstrated an 87% accuracy in predicting recurrence risk. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore the strong prognostic and predictive correlation between HER2 histo-morphometric features and response to targeted anti-HER2 therapy.
引言:人表皮生长因子受体2阳性(HER2阳性)乳腺癌(BC)是一种异质性疾病。在本研究中,我们假设HER2致癌活性的程度以及对抗HER2治疗的反应可转化为具有预后/预测价值的形态学特征。 方法:我们基于通过数字图像分析和视觉评估在大量BC患者队列中确定的一组形态计量学特征,开发了一种HER2驱动的特征。使用HER2富集分子亚型(HER2-E)进行验证,并进行通路富集分析以评估特征阳性病例中的HER2通路活性。在辅助治疗后的HER2阳性BC患者中评估该特征的预测效用。 结果:共评估了57个形态计量学特征;其中,22个特征与HER2阳性显著相关。与其他HER2类别(包括基因扩增的HER2 IHC 2+)相比,HER2 IHC评分3+/雌激素受体阴性肿瘤与HER2相关形态计量学特征显著相关,并且它们显示出最小的肿瘤内形态异质性。显示HER2驱动形态学特征的肿瘤与PAM50 HER2-E亚型的相关性最强,与特征阴性病例相比,ERBB信号通路富集。HER2形态计量学特征阳性的BC患者在辅助抗HER2治疗后显示远处无转移生存期延长(p = 0.007)。临床形态计量学预后指数在预测复发风险方面的准确率为87%。 结论:我们的研究结果强调了HER2组织形态计量学特征与靶向抗HER2治疗反应之间的强预后和预测相关性。
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