Comparison of Clinicopathological Characteristics for HER2-Null, HER2-Ultralow and HER2-Low Breast Cancer: A Single-Center Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background A recent clinical trial has demonstrated that breast cancer with low-HER2 expression levels responds to trastuzumab deruxtecan treatment. This has prompted a re-evaluation of HER2-targeted therapies in the HER2-negative group. Further research is required in the form of more detailed information about HER2-negative breast cancers with HER2-null, HER2-ultralow and HER2-low subgroups. This study represents a novel approach to this field. Patients and methods HER2-negative breast cancer patients were classified into 3 groups as HER2-null, HER2-ultralow and HER2-low. Comparison of clinicopathological features were analyzed retrospectively. Results Of 722 patients, 22.3% were HER2-null, 23.7% were HER2-ultralow, 54.0% were HER2-low. While two-thirds of the overall patients were evaluated as T2 tumors, T4 tumors constituted 2.4%. 88.2% of the overall group was hormone-receptor-positive. Among HER2-negative cases, %11.8 were triple negative and %88.2 were hormone positive. Mean tumor diameter was 0.57 cm larger in HER2-ultralow than in HER2-null and 0.34 cm larger in HER2-low than in HER2-null groups. HER2-null tumors tend to be smaller. Low rates of tumor infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs) were found in all three groups. The HER2-low group was more likely to relapse than the HER2-null group. Conclusion HER2-negative breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and deserves a detailed review in diagnosis and treatment. HER2-low tumors tend to recur much and poorer outcomes. In this field new therapeutic approaches may result in better outcomes.
Source: Medicina
Language: English
Topic: HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
Subfield: Oncology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,654
OpenAlex ID: W4409431739