Classification of HER2/neu status in gastric cancer using a breast-cancer derived proteome classifier

J Proteome Res. 2010 Dec 3;9(12):6317-22. doi: 10.1021/pr100573s. Epub 2010 Nov 8.

Abstract

HER2-testing in breast and gastric cancers is mandatory for the treatment with trastuzumab. We hypothesized that imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) of breast cancers may be useful for generating a classifier that may determine HER2-status in other cancer entities irrespective of primary tumor site. A total of 107 breast (n = 48) and gastric (n = 59) cryo tissue samples was analyzed by IMS (HER2 was present in 29 cases). The obtained proteomic profiles were used to create HER2 prediction models using different classification algorithms. A breast cancer proteome derived classifier, with HER2 present in 15 cases, correctly predicted HER2-status in gastric cancers with a sensitivity of 65% and a specificity of 92%. To create a universal classifier for HER2-status, breast and nonbreast cancer samples were combined, which increased sensitivity to 78%, and specificity was 88%. Our proof of principle study provides evidence that HER2-status can be identified on a proteomic level across different cancer types suggesting that HER2 overexpression may constitute a unique molecular event independent of the tumor site. Furthermore, these results indicate that IMS may be useful for the determination of potential drugable targets, as it offers a quicker, cheaper, and more objective analysis than the standard HER2-testing procedures immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Algorithms
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Stomach Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*

Substances

  • Receptor, ErbB-2