Frontiers in Oncology (Jan 2023)

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression in women with uterine cervix adenocarcinoma from Appalachian Kentucky

  • Charles A. Kunos,
  • Denise Fabian,
  • Dava W. Piecoro,
  • Dana Napier,
  • Rachel W. Miller,
  • Frederick R. Ueland

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2023.948348
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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IntroductionHigh-risk human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive adenocarcinomas associate with early recurrence and death, prompting consideration of novel radiotherapeutic options like a trastuzumab-linked thorium-227 alpha-particle emitting radionuclide.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective pilot biomarker study of uterine cervix cancers among patients in Appalachian Kentucky, to characterize an exploitable triage biomarker like HER2 expression before starting a prospective phase 0 trial.ResultsMost (60%) adenocarcinomas showed HER2 cell-surface overexpression, whereas squamous cell carcinomas (4%) did not do so.DiscussionFurther validation tests of HER2 expression as a triage biomarker for radiopharmaceutical selection are warranted.

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