Dr. Bloom Explains Situations Requiring HER2 Retesting

Video

Dr. Kenneth Bloom, from Chief Medical Officer at Clarient, Explains Situations Requiring HER2 Retesting

Kenneth J. Bloom, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Clarient, discusses retesting patients who present with HER2-positive characteristics but receive HER2-negative test results.

Bloom's first choice for HER2 testing for patients with breast cancer is immunohistochemistry (IHC). If the initial test says the tumor is HER2-negative and the patient has characteristics that do not suggest HER2 positivity, such as a low tumor grade, strong progesterone receptor expression, and a low proliferation index, then a second test is not needed.

If the test returns negative and a single positive characteristic is present a second test should be performed. The question that lingers is whether the second test should be performed on the same or a different tissue block. Breast cancer heterogeneity allows for some blocks to test differently than others.

The second test should use a different assay than the first. The test you use first can vary, but Bloom suggests IHC (View more on this topic >>> Dr. Bloom Compares HER2 Screening Assays).

Bloom notes that it is important to test using a second methodology because of the magnitude of improvement seen with the addition of Herceptin.

Related Videos
Ricardo D. Parrondo, MD, hematologist/oncologist, Mayo Clinic
Ilyas Sahin, MD
Raj Singh, MD
Jaime R. Merchán, MD, professor, co-leader, Translational and Clinical Oncology Research Program, director, Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Saad J. Kenderian, MB, CHB
Tycel Phillips, MD
Minesh Mehta, MD
Shivaani Kummar, MBBS, FACP, Margaret and Lester DeArmond Endowed Chair of Cancer Research, Professor and Division Head, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine; co-director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, co-deputy director, Knight Cancer Institute