The aim of our study was to assess, by Methylation-Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (MSP), the methylation pattern of the CDH1 gene and its possible correlation with the expression of E-cadherin and other standard immunohistochemical parameters (Her-2, ER, PgR, p53, and K-67) in a series of 79 primary breast cancers (71 infiltrating ductal, 5 infiltrating lobular, 1 metaplastic, 1 apocrine, and 1 papillary carcinoma).
Determination of HER2/neu status in uterine serous papillary carcinoma: Comparative analysis of immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.
Immunocytochemical evaluation of c-erbB-2 and Ki-67 and DNA ploidy evaluation on cytological smears might reveal a biological aggressiveness of PC despite the bland microscopic features of the tumor and this should influence the therapeutic procedure.
In contrast, ras mutations are rare (10%). erbB-2/neu gene amplification and activating mutations are not detected, although elevated mRNA levels were found in 20% of papillary carcinomas.
RNA was extracted from 51 thyroid tissue samples from 34 of the above patients, and c-erbB-2 mRNA was analysed by slot-blot hybridisation. c-erbB-2 mRNA was detectable in all samples, but papillary carcinomas and lymph node metastases showed significantly higher levels of c-erbB-2 mRNA compared to non-neoplastic tissue.
The c-erbB2/neu and c-erbB oncogenes showed two- to three-fold higher levels of RNA in papillary carcinomas and lymph node metastases as well as in one adenoma when compared to non-tumour tissue.