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HelpMayo Test ID H2BR HER2 Amplification Associated with Breast Cancer, FISH, Tissue
Ordering Guidance
This test is only performed on specimens from patients with primary or metastatic breast tumors.
This test is not appropriate if the specimen is derived from primary or metastatic gastroesophageal carcinoma. See H2GE / HER2 Amplification Associated with Gastroesophageal Cancer, FISH, Tissue. If this test is ordered and the laboratory is informed that the specimen is a primary or metastatic gastroesophageal carcinoma, it will be canceled and automatically reordered by the laboratory as H2GE.
For all other tumor types, order H2MT / HER2 Amplification, Miscellaneous Tumor, FISH, Tissue. If this test is ordered and the laboratory is informed that the specimen is a primary or metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma, endometrial serous carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, or any other non-breast, non-gastroesophageal it will be canceled and automatically reordered by the laboratory as H2MT.
This test does not include a pathology consult. If a pathology consultation is requested, order PATHC / Pathology Consultation, and the appropriate testing will be added at the discretion of the pathologist and performed at an additional charge.
Shipping Instructions
Advise Express Mail or equivalent if not on courier service.
Necessary Information
1. A pathology report is required for testing to be performed. If not provided, appropriate testing and/or interpretation may be compromised or delayed. Acceptable pathology reports include working drafts, preliminary pathology, or surgical pathology reports.
2. The following information must be included in the report provided:
-Patient name
-Block number - must be on all blocks, slides, and paperwork
-Date of collection
-Tissue source
-Fixation used AND time in Fixation (recommended: >6 hours and <72 hours).
3. A reason for testing must be provided. If this information is not provided, an appropriate indication for testing may be entered by Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
Specimen Required
Note: In accordance with College of American Pathologists guidelines, place specimens for HER2 (ERBB2) testing in fixative within one hour of biopsy or resection (cold ischemia time). Specimens should remain in 10% neutral buffered formalin for a minimum of 6 hours to a maximum of 72 hours (formalin fixation time). Do not use decalcification solutions with strong acids.(CAP Accreditation Program. CYG.48932 Fixation - HER2 (ERBB2) Breast Predictive Marker Testing. Cytogenetics Checklist. College of American Pathologists. 08/2023)
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Preferred
Specimen Type: Tissue block
Collection Instructions: Submit a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue block. Blocks prepared with alternative fixation methods may be acceptable; provide fixation method used.
Acceptable
Specimen Type: Tissue slides
Slides: 1 Hematoxylin and eosin stained and 4 unstained
Collection Instructions: Submit 1 slide stained with hematoxylin and eosin and 4 consecutive, unstained, positively charged, unbaked slides with 5-micron-thick sections of the tumor tissue. Slides cut from blocks prepared with alternative fixation methods may be acceptable; provide fixation method used.
Useful For
A predictive marker for patients with both node-positive or node-negative primary and metastatic breast cancer
Patients with HER2 amplification that may be candidates for therapies targeting the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein (eg, trastuzumab [Herceptin], pertuzumab, lapatinib)
Confirming the presence of HER2 amplification in cases with 2+ (low level) or 3+ (high level) HER2 overexpression by immunohistochemistry, and for certain histologic subtypes with aberrant patterns of HER2 expression seen by immunohistochemistry (eg, micropapillary carcinoma)
Reflex Tests
| Test ID | Reporting Name | Available Separately | Always Performed |
|---|---|---|---|
| HERBN | HER Breast IHC Automated NO Reflex | Yes | No |
Testing Algorithm
This test includes a charge for the probe application, analysis, and professional interpretation of results for one probe set (2 individual fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] probes). No analysis charges will be incurred if an insufficient number of representative cells are available for analysis.
Reflex testing will be performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) when the FISH result falls within certain ranges as defined by the 2018 focused update to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines.(1) FISH results in ASCO/CAP categories Group 2, 3, and 4 (formerly called "equivocal") will have IHC testing added, charged, and reported separately. An integrated interpretation of the IHC and FISH results will be provided (see Interpretation).
Initial results are typically completed within 6 days. If initial results indicate IHC reflex testing is necessary based on ASCO/CAP guidelines, complete results will typically be available within 8 days.
Appropriate ancillary probes may be performed at consultant discretion to render comprehensive assessment. Any additional probes will have the results included within the final report and will be performed at an additional charge.
Method Name
Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)
Reporting Name
HER2, Breast Tumor, FISH, TissueSpecimen Type
TissueSpecimen Minimum Volume
Slides: 1 Hematoxylin and eosin stained and 2 unstained
Specimen Stability Information
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tissue | Ambient (preferred) | ||
| Refrigerated | |||
Reject Due To
All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.Clinical Information
HER2 (ERBB2: c-erb-b2) is an oncogene on the long arm of chromosome 17 that is amplified in approximately 15% to 20% of breast cancers. Amplification or overexpression of HER2 has been shown to be associated with shorter disease-free survival and poorer overall survival in breast cancers. Patients with HER2 gene amplification or overexpression are candidates for treatment with the drugs that target the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein or its downstream pathways (eg, trastuzumab [Herceptin], pertuzumab).
Fluorescence in situ hybridization with labeled DNA probes to the pericentromeric region of chromosome 17 and to the HER2 locus can be used to determine if a patient's breast cancer has HER2 gene amplification. Immunohistochemical analysis is used to determine if a tumor exhibits HER2 overexpression.
Reference Values
An interpretive report will be provided.
Interpretation
An interpretive report will be provided. Results are interpreted utilizing the current American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines.(1)
Under the 2018 Focused Update to the ASCO/CAP Guidelines, reflex immunohistochemistry (IHC) is performed for certain categories of results, known as Groups 2, 3, and 4. These categories are shown in the table below (Group 4 is the category formerly referred to as fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH] "equivocal"). If reflex IHC is performed and is either negative (0, 1+) or positive (3+), the result of the FISH assay is considered resolved by IHC as either negative or positive. If the IHC assay shows an equivocal (2+) result, then the FISH slide is reanalyzed within the areas showing the most intense membranous (2+) staining, and the final FISH result is used to determine whether the result is negative or positive.
Table.
|
ASCO/CAP result category |
HER2:D17Z1 ratio; Average HER2 copies per cell |
Reporting approach per 2018 ASCO/CAP guidelines |
|
Group 1 |
HER2:D17Z1 =2.0; HER2/cell ≥4.0 |
Positive |
|
Group 2 |
HER2:D17Z1 =2.0; HER2/cell <4.0 |
Reflex IHC; FISH reanalysis if 2+ |
|
Group 3 |
HER2:D17Z1 <2.0; HER2/cell ≥6.0 |
Reflex IHC; FISH reanalysis if 2+ |
|
Group 4 |
HER2:D17Z1 <2.0; HER2/cel ≥4.0 and <6.0 |
Reflex IHC; FISH reanalysis if 2+ |
|
Group 5 |
HER2:D17Z1 <2.0; HER2/cell <4.0 |
Negative |
The degree of HER2 amplification varies in tumors. Some exhibit high levels of amplification (HER2:D17Z1 ratio >4.0), whereas others exhibit low-level amplification (HER2:D17Z1 ratio of 2.0-4.0). It is not currently known if patients with different levels of amplification have the same prognosis and response to therapy.
Rare cases may not show HER2 amplification but still have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein overexpression demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. The clinical significance of HER2 protein overexpression in the absence of HER2 gene amplification is unclear. However, these patients may have a worse prognosis and be candidates for treatments that target the HER2 protein or its downstream pathways.
Cautions
Optimum fixation should be between 6 and 72 hours in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Other fixation methods should not be used, but the specimen will not be rejected.
Paraffin-embedded tissues that have been decalcified may not be successful for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. The success rate of FISH studies on decalcified tissue is approximately 50%, but FISH will be attempted if sufficient tumor is present for analysis.
If no FISH signals are observed post-hybridization, the case will be released indicating a lack of FISH results.
This test is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and it is best used as an adjunct to existing clinical and pathologic information.
The prognostic information provided by the HER2 status of a patient's tumor should not be interpreted in isolation because other prognostic features (eg, lymph node status, tumor size, estrogen/progesterone receptor status) may be of equal or greater importance in determining the patient's prognosis.
Clinical Reference
1. Wolff AC, Hammond MEH, Allison KH, et al. Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Testing in Breast Cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists Clinical Practice Guideline Focused Update. J Clin Oncol. 2018;36(20):2105-2122 doi:10.1200/JCO.2018.77.8738
2. CAP Accreditation Program. CYG.48932 Fixation - HER2 (ERBB2) Breast Predictive Marker Testing. Cytogenetics Checklist. College of American Pathologists. 08/2023
3. Wolff AC, Hammond ME, Hicks DG, et al. Recommendations for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing in breast cancer: American Society for Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists clinical practice guideline update. J Clin Onc. 2013;31(31):3997-4013
4. Perez EA, Roche PC, Jenkins RB, et al. HER2 testing in patients with breast cancer: poor correlation between weak positively by immunohistochemistry and gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Mayo Clin Proc. 2002;77(2):148-154
5. Romond EH, Perez EA, Bryant J, et al. Trastuzumab plus adjuvant chemotherapy for operable HER2-positive breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(16):1673-1684
6. Perez EA, Romond EH, Suman VJ, et al. Four-year follow-up of trastuzumab plus adjuvant chemotherapy for operable human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive breast cancer: joint analysis of data from NCCTG N9831 and NSABP B-31. J Clin Oncol. 2011;29(25):3366-3373
7. Blumenthal GM, Scher NS, Cortazar P, et al. First FDA approval of dual anti-HER2 regimen: pertuzumab in combination with trastuzumab and docetaxel for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2013;19(18):4911-4916
8. Robidoux A, Tang G, Rastogi P. Lapatinib as a component of neoadjuvant therapy for HER2-positive operable breast cancer (NSABP protocol B-41): an open-label, randomized phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013;14(12):1183-1192
Method Description
The test is performed using the PathVysion HER2 DNA probe set (Abbott Molecular) with a HER2 probe and a chromosome 17 centromere probe (D17Z1). Paraffin-embedded tissues are cut at 5 microns and mounted on positively charged glass slides. The selection of tissue and the identification of target areas on the hematoxylin and eosin (H and E)-stained slide are performed by a pathologist. Using the H and E-stained slide as a reference, target areas are etched with a diamond-tipped engraving tool on the back of the unstained slide to be assayed. The probe is hybridized to the appropriate target areas and 2 technologists each analyze 30 interphase nuclei (60 total) with the results expressed as a ratio HER2:D17Z1 signals.
Reflex testing using immunohistochemistry will be performed when the HER2 FISH result is Group 2, Group 3, or Group 4 (based on 2018 Focused Update to ASCO/CAP guidelines[1]).(Unpublished Mayo method)
Day(s) Performed
Monday through Friday
Report Available
6 to 8 daysSpecimen Retention Time
Slides and H and E used for analysis are retained by the laboratory in accordance with regulatory requirements. Client provided paraffin blocks and extra unstained slides will be returned after testing is complete.Performing Laboratory
Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester
Test Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
88377
LOINC Code Information
| Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| H2BR | HER2, Breast Tumor, FISH, Tissue | 96893-3 |
| Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
|---|---|---|
| 603074 | Result Summary | 50397-9 |
| 603075 | Interpretation | 69965-2 |
| 603076 | Result | 62356-1 |
| GC028 | Reason for Referral | 42349-1 |
| 603077 | Specimen | 31208-2 |
| 603078 | Source | 85303-6 |
| 603079 | Tissue ID | 80398-1 |
| 603080 | Fixative | 8100-0 |
| 603081 | Method | 85069-3 |
| 603082 | Additional Information | 48767-8 |
| 603083 | Disclaimer | 62364-5 |
| 603084 | Released By | 18771-6 |