SIGNIFICANCE OF HUMAN EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR (HER2-NEU) MARKER IN UROTHELIAL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Study design: Cross-Sectional descriptive study
Setting: Histopathology section of Pathology department at Rahman Medical Institute (RMI) Peshawar and Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar

Period: Six months from January to June, 2017 after approval from university Ethical board.

Material and Methods: this was a descriptive study and 63 cases were selected by purposive sampling. Tissue samples from diagnosed cases of urothelial carcinoma urinary bladder were included. Cases of urothelial carcinoma from other sites were excluded. Paraffin embedded tissue blocks were cut and sections stained by H&E to evaluate histopathological features and tumor grades. Immunohistochemical expression of HER2 was determined applying standard techniques of immunohistochemistry.

Results: Out of total 63 cases, 44 were males and 19 were female with a mean age of
60.69 years (range 16-90 years). There were 38 High grade, 23 Low grade and 2 cases of
PUNLMP. 36 cases were positive for HER2 expression in which 26(72.2%) were High
grade, 9(25%) of Low grade and 1(2.7%) of PUNLMP (Papillary urothelial neoplasm of low malignant potential. High grade was more common in HER2 positive cases and this relationship was significant (p<.05). Among positive 36 cases, 19 cases of +3 score were High grade, 05 in Low grade and 01 in PUNLMP while score 2+ was   in 07 cases of High grade and 04 were in Low grade. The relationship of HER2 score was not significantly related to grade of tumor (p>.05)