HER-2/neu protein expression in breast cancer evaluated by immunohistochemistry. A study of interlaboratory agreement

Am J Clin Pathol. 2000 Feb;113(2):251-8. doi: 10.1309/980M-E24R-V19K-595D.

Abstract

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is used commonly for evaluating HER-2/neu protein expression in breast cancer. Given the potential clinical importance of HER-2/neu status in patient management, interlaboratory variability in HER-2/neu IHC results in a matter of legitimate concern. We compared the results from 2 laboratories for HER-2/neu determined by IHC on paraffin sections of the same 100 consecutive invasive breast cancers. Both laboratories used the same primary antibody; however, different methods for heat-induced epitope retrieval (microwave or steam) and immunostaining (automated equipment from different manufacturers) and different scoring systems (positive-negative and 0-4+) were used. Slides were read in a blinded fashion and the results from the 2 laboratories were compared. Of the 93 cases evaluable in both laboratories, 24% were scored as HER-2/neu-positive at 1 laboratory, and 23% were scored as positive at the other. Complete concordance in categorization of HER-2/neu status between the 2 laboratories was achieved in 90 of 93 cases. Excellent interlaboratory agreement for HER-2/neu IHC was attained using the same primary antibody to HER-2/neu, even without standardization of assay method or scoring criteria. However, standardization of these parameters remains an important objective to optimize interlaboratory agreement.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Autoanalysis
  • Axilla
  • Breast Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Hot Temperature
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry* / standards
  • Laboratories / standards
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Observer Variation
  • Quality Control
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptors, Estrogen / analysis

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptor, ErbB-2