Droplet Digital PCR Measurement of HER2 in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Overview

Journal Br J Cancer

Specialty Oncology

Date 2015 Apr 22

PMID 25897674

Citations 41

Authors

H Kinugasa

K Nouso

T Tanaka

K Miyahara

Y Morimoto

C Dohi

T Matsubara

H Okada

K Yamamoto

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Although there are some new criteria for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression with immunohistochemistry/fluorescence in situ hybridisation (IHC/FISH) in gastric cancer, the method is still ambiguous and is somewhat dependent on the subjective qualities of the evaluator.

Methods: We used droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to evaluate HER2 amplification in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples and cell-free serum circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in 25 patients with gastric cancer.

Results: The concordance rate of HER2 amplification examined in FFPE samples with ddPCR and IHC/FISH was 92% (23 out of 25). The concordance rate of FFPE with ctDNA was not high (62.5%); however, patients who were HER2-positive by ctDNA had significantly shorter survival compared with HER2-negative patients.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that this ddPCR method was as effective as IHC/FISH and therefore might become a standard method for analysing not only FFPE but also ctDNA.

Citing Articles

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Positive Advanced Gastric or Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: Reflecting on the Past to Gain a New Insights.

Aoki Y, Nakayama I, Shitara K Curr Oncol Rep. 2025; 27(1):15-29.

PMID: 39753814 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-024-01626-2.

Clinical applications and perspectives of circulating tumor DNA in gastric cancer.

Li J, Zhang D, Zhu J, Dong L Cancer Cell Int. 2024; 24(1):13.

PMID: 38184573 PMC: 10770949. DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03209-4.

Liquid biopsy based HER2 amplification status in gastric cancer patients indicates clinical response.

Klein-Scory S, Ladigan-Badura S, Mika T, Verdoodt B, Tannapfel A, Pohl M Heliyon. 2023; 9(11):e21339.

PMID: 38027576 PMC: 10665680. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21339.

Circulating tumor cells and circulating tumor DNA in breast cancer diagnosis and monitoring.

Alemzadeh E, Allahqoli L, Dehghan H, Mazidimoradi A, Ghasempour A, Salehiniya H Oncol Res. 2023; 31(5):667-675.

PMID: 37547763 PMC: 10398400. DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.028406.

Challenges and future of HER2-positive gastric cancer therapy.

Ma C, Wang X, Guo J, Yang B, Li Y Front Oncol. 2023; 13:1080990.

PMID: 36793592 PMC: 9924067. DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1080990.

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