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Abstract

Expression of HER2/Neu in B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

VOLUME 68 - NUMBER 4 / July - August (Brief Communication)

Sergio Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, Mexico City; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Huixquilucan, Mexico
Alan Pomerantz, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, Mexico City; Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Anáhuac México Norte, Huixquilucan, Mexico
Roberta Demichelis-Gómez, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), Mexico City, Mexico
Georgina Barrera-Lumbreras, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, Mexico City, México
Olga Barrales-Benitez, Department of Hematology and Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Tlalpan, Mexico City, México
Álvaro Aguayo, Department of Hematology and Oncology. Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico

Background: The expression of HER2/neu in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia has been reported in previous studies. Objective: The objective of this research was to study the expression of HER2/neu on the blasts of patients with acute leukemia from the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion Salvador Zubiran. Methods: From June 2015 to February 2016, a HER2/neu monoclonal antibody was added to the panel of antibodies that we routinely use in patients with acute leukemia. An expression of ≥ 30% was considered positive. Results: We studied 33 patients: 19 had de novo leukemia (57.6%), three (9.1%) were in relapse, and in 11 (33.3%) their status could not be specified. Seventeen patients (51.5%) were classified as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a median expression of HER2/neu of 0.3% (range 0-90.2). Three patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia were positive for HER2/neu: 89.4%, 90.9%, and 62.4%. The first and third patient had de novo B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The second patient was in second relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplant. All three patients were categorized as high-risk at the time of diagnosis. Conclusions: In the studied Mexican population, we found a positive expression of HER2/neu in 17% of the B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, similar to previous studies in which the expression was found in 15-50%.

Keywords: Acute leukemia. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia. HER2/neu. Trastuzumab. Monoclonal antibody

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