Amplification of ERBB2 (HER2) in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: A potential treatment target in rare cases?

Shamik Mitra, Saskia Sydow, Linda Magnusson, Paul Piccinelli, Lisa Törnudd, Ingrid Øra, Gustaf Ljungman, Johanna Sandgren, David Gisselsson, Fredrik Mertens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The ERBB2 gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase also known as HER2. The gene is amplified and overexpressed in one-fifth of breast carcinomas; patients with such tumors benefit from targeted treatment with trastuzumab or other drugs blocking the receptor. In addition, ERBB2 has been shown to be amplified and/or overexpressed in a variety of other malignancies. Notably, both alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), especially in children, often show increased expression of ERBB2. Although high-level amplification of the gene has not been described in RMS, its frequent expression at the cell surface of RMS cells has been exploited for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T)-based treatment strategies. We here describe two cases of pediatric, fusion-negative embryonal RMS with high-level amplification of the ERBB2 gene. One patient is currently treated with conventional chemotherapy for a recently detected standard risk RMS, whereas the other patient died from metastatic disease. Both tumors displayed focal amplicons (210 and 274 Kb, respectively) in chromosome band 17q12, with proximal and distal borders corresponding to those typically seen in breast cancer. In both tumors, the ERBB2 amplicon correlated with high expression at the RNA and protein levels. Thus, breast cancer-like ERBB2 amplification is a very rare, but recurrent feature of pediatric RMS, and should be exploited as an alternative treatment target.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5-9
JournalGenes, Chromosomes and Cancer
Volume61
Issue number1
Early online date2021 Aug 21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Cancer and Oncology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Amplification of ERBB2 (HER2) in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma: A potential treatment target in rare cases?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this