Assessing the new American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines for HER2 testing by fluorescence in situ hybridization: Experience of an academic consultation practice

Abstract

Context. - Evaluation of HER2 gene amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was changed by recent American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists (ASCO-CAP) guidelines. Objective. - To determine frequencies and assess patterns of HER2 protein expression for each ASCO-CAP guideline FISH category among 7526 breast cancers accrued to our consultation practice. Design. - We retrospectively reevaluated the HER2 FISH status of breast cancers in our consultation practice according to ASCO-CAP FISH guidelines, and documented HER2 protein levels in each category. Results. - According to new guidelines, 17.7% of our consultation breast cancers were "ISH-positive" with HER2:CEP17 FISH ratios ≥2.0 and average HER2 gene copies per cell ≥4.0 (group 1); 0.4% were "ISH-positive" with ratios ≥2.0 and average copies <4.0 (group 2); 0.6% were "ISH-positive" with ratios <2.0 and average copies ≥6.0 (group 3); 4.6% were "ISH-equivocal" with ratios <2.0 and average copies ≥4.0 and <6.0 (group 4); and 76.7% were "ISH-negative" with ratios <2.0 and average copies <4.0 (group 5). However, only groups 1 (HER2 amplified) and 5 (HER2 not amplified) agreed with our previously reported status, and only these groups demonstrated the expected immunohistochemistry status, overexpression and low expression, respectively. Groups 2 and 4 breast cancers lacked overexpression, whereas group 3 was not significantly associated with either increased or decreased HER2 expression. Conclusions. - Although the status of approximately 95% of our cases (groups 1 and 5) is not affected by the new guidelines, those of the other 5% (groups 2-4) conflict with previous HER2 gene amplification status and with HER2 status by immunohistochemistry.