Gastric HER2 Testing Study (GaTHER): an evaluation of gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer testing accuracy in Australia

Am J Surg Pathol. 2012 Apr;36(4):577-82. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0b013e318244adbb.

Abstract

Trastuzumab provides a survival benefit in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-amplified/overexpressed advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers (GC/GJCs). However, the optimal method for testing is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess interlaboratory agreement on HER2 scoring in GC/GJC to aid the development of a robust testing algorithm for diagnostic practice in Australia. Nine laboratories assessed the HER2 status of 100 GC/GJC tissue samples by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) [chromogenic (CISH) or silver (SISH)] using both HER2 copy number and HER2:chr17 (chromosome 17) ratio. Results were compared with reference fluorescence ISH (FISH). Interlaboratory agreement on IHC3+ scoring was good (κ=0.76), and there was good/very good agreement between IHC (positivity defined as IHC3+) and ISH when HER2 copy number was used (κ=0.72 to 0.87). Agreement on CISH/SISH scoring was good/very good when HER2 copy number was used (κ=0.68 to 0.86), and agreement between CISH/SISH and FISH using HER2 copy number was very good (κ=0.88 to 0.91). Agreement was reduced when HER2:chr17 ratio was used. The good agreement for HER2 copy number determined by bright-field ISH suggests that this is the optimal method for testing in GC/GJC cases. An IHC3+ score was strongly predictive of a positive ISH result, although agreement for all IHC scores was only moderate, suggesting that IHC triage before ISH testing would be the most cost-effective strategy. However, because of the unique features of GC/GJC samples and the difficulty of ensuring consistent HER2 staining in the community setting, it is recommended that HER2 status in advanced GC/GJC be determined by both IHC and ISH in the same laboratory.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / genetics
  • Esophagogastric Junction / metabolism
  • Esophagogastric Junction / pathology*
  • Gastric Mucosa / metabolism
  • Gene Dosage
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods*
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2* / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2* / metabolism
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Stomach / pathology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2