Forty breast-cancer specimens were examined for IHC expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), HER2, Ki-67 and Topoisomerase II alpha (TopoIIa). One-hundred-fifty-six cancer specimens were examined for HER2. Histopathological images of IHC specimens were stored digitally thru virtual microscopy (Hamamatsu Photonics). A Genie/Aperio software package on a desktop computer auto-analyzed these images.
For ER and PgR, concordant results were obtained between ocular observation and auto-analysis (p < 0.001). The Ki-67 index (r = 0.96) and TopoIIa index (r = 0.95) also showed a significant correlation (p < 0.001). Concordant ratios were 92.9%, 82.2%,
59.5% and 100% for HER2 score 0, 1, 2 and 3, respectively. 24 cases (28.6%) of 84 cases with a HER2 score of 2 by ocular observation were re-analyzed as a score of 3 by auto-analysis. 19 cases (79.2%) of these re-scored cases showed HER2 gene amplification by FISH analysis.
In sum, well-organized auto-analysis is able to provide objective results. Thus, autoanalysis might be a means by which to standardize methods for immunohistochemical detection of breast cancer.
Total Pages: 34-41 (8)
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