HER-2/neu oncogene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization in epithelial tumors of the ovary

HER-2/neu gene amplification and protein overexpression have been associate d with prognosis in breast, lung, and prostate cancers but have not been ex tensively studied in ovarian carcinoma. For the study, we selected 5-mu m-t hick, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 74 cases of ov arian epithelial tumors of low malignant potential and ovarian carcinoma. T umors were graded and staged and evaluated for amplification of the HER-2/n eu gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization. HER-2/neu amplification was present in 3 of 13 serous, mucinous, and endometrioid epithelial tumors of low malignant potential and in 40 of 61 epithelial carcinomas. In the carci noma group, amplification did not correlate with stage, grade, or tumor typ e. Mean follow-up was 31 months; I patient with a low malignant potential t umor and 32 patients with carcinomas died of disease. On univariate and mul tivariate analysis, survival correlated with stage of disease but not with HER-2/neu amplification. HER-2/neu amplification by fluorescence in situ hy bridization can be performed on tissue sections of ovarian neoplasms; ampli fication is uncommon in ovarian rumors of low malignant potential, but is p resent in 66% of ovarian epithelial carcinomas. HER-2/neu amplification did not predict outcome in ovarian epithelial neoplasia but may have an import ant role in tumor development.