1. ROLE OF HER2 IN THE
BREAST CANCER
Presented by:
Ayesha Ayub
Trainee Technologist

2. OUTLINE:
 Introduction
 Gene
 HER2 Gene
 Diagnostic Test
 Treatment
 Conclusion

3. What is GENE ?
 Genes are segments
of DNA located on
chromosomes.
 Genes contain the
codes for the
production of specific
proteins.

4. HER2 Gene ?
 HER2 stands for Human
Epidermal growth factor
Receptor 2.
 It is present on
chromosome no 17.
 HER2 is a protein on the
surface of all normal cells
in your body.
 HER2 helps regulate the
way cells grow and divide
into other cells.

5. NORMAL HER2
vs
CANCEROUS HER2
YES ! Normal Cells have HER2 Gene !
The difference is:
 Receptor over expression
 Dysregulation of receptor activation.

7. Diagnostic Tests
There are two tests for the detection of HER2 gene:
 IHC TEST( immunohistochemistry)
 FISH Testing( fluorescence in situ hybridization)
Tests are usually performed on biopsy samples
obtained by either fine-needle aspiration, core
needle biopsy, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, or
surgical excision.

8. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
 It’s a prognostic test.
 IHC is a protein-based test that is used to
provide an assessment of the amount of HER2
protein receptors on the surface of the cancer
cells.
 IHC is the most commonly used test to see if a
tumor has too much of the HER2 receptor
protein on the surface of the cancer cells.
 Scoring for an IHC from 0 to 3+.

9. INTERPRETATIONS
OF
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY

14. FISH TESTING
 FISH is a gene-based test used to determine the
number of HER2 genes in the cells of the tumor.
In HER2-positive breast cancer if there are too
many copies of the HER2 gene, the gene is
“amplified."
 This test can be used to visualize specific genes
or portions of genes.
 FISH is considered more accurate than IHC.

15. INTERPRETATION
OF
FISH

16. NEGATIVE HER2
AMPLIFICATION:

18. Treatment
 There are some treatments available specifically for
HER2-positive breast cancer.
 The most commonly used medication is Herceptin
(chemical name: trastuzumab), which works by attaching
itself to the HER2 receptors on breast cancer cells and
blocking them from receiving growth signals.
 By blocking these signals, Herceptin may help to slow
or even stop the growth of the breast cancer.
 In addition to blocking HER2 receptors, Herceptin can
also help fight breast cancer by alerting the immune
system to destroy cancer cells onto which it is attached.

19. Mode Of Action

20. Conclusion
 HER2-positive breast cancer is a breast cancer that tests
positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
(HER2), which promotes the growth of cancer cells.
 In about 1 of every 5 breast cancers, the cancer cells
make an excess of HER2 due to a gene mutation. This is
a gene mutation that occurs only in the cancer cells and is
not a type of mutation that you can inherit from a parent.
 HER2-positive breast cancers tend to be more aggressive
than other types of breast cancer.
 They're also less responsive to hormone treatment.
However, treatments that specifically target HER2 are
very effective.