LABORATORY ANALYSIS FOR HER-2 NEU GENE AMPLIFICATION AND PROTEIN OVEREXPRESSION/

We performed a correlative study to assess HER-2/neu oncogene amplific ation and protein overexpression. Gene amplification was determined by simultaneous hybridization of human breast tumor DNA with probes for the oncogene and a single copy reference gene. Immunohistochemistry wi th a murine anti-HER-2/neu antibody was done on different portions of the same tumors. It has been demonstrated that the extent of gene ampl ification plays a role in disease outcome in breast cancer The results of our investigation allowed this controversial, but sometimes useful , prognostic indicator to be used by a hospital's medical staff.