Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network

Breast tumors positive for both ER and HER2 estrogen receptors preferentially activated a different set of biologic pathways compared with ER-/HER2+ cancers, according to researchers at the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels and University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.   

The study, published as an abstract and presented at the IMPAKT Breast Cancer Conference in May and at ASCO in June indicates that ER status defines distinct molecular and clinical phenotypes for HER2+ patients.

Greater activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway was seen in ER+/HER2+tumors, whereas ER-/HER2+ tumors favored EGFR/RAS/MAPK signaling. Treatment of HER2+ breast cancer may therefore be different according to ER status.

For more information about breast cancer testing available at MPLN, contact a technical service specialist at 800.932.2943.