Metachronous brain metastases in ovarian cancer: analysis of Her1-4

Introduction Development of brain metastases (BM) from epithelial ovarian cancer is uncommon and is leading to limited survival. Overexpression of HER2receptors is correlated with poor prognosis and higher risk of metastasis. Aim is to evaluate the pattern of Her1-4 expression in primary ovarian cancer and corresponding BM.

Methodology We investigated Her1-4 at protein level using immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays derived from 16 patients with primary ovarian cancer treated at university hospital Tuebingen from 2000 through 2019, who developed BM metachronously. Matched pair analysis of primary and BM were performed.

Results Existing primary tissue of 8 patients was evaluated: most often HER3+ results were found; 1 patient (13 %) was HER1+, none HER2+, 3 (38 %) HER3+ and 2 (25 %) were HER4+.

Existing tissue of BM of 15 patients was evaluated: 11 patients (73 %) were HER1+; none HER2+, respectively; 7 patients (47 %) HER3+ and 5 (33 %) were HER4+. No receptor change for HER2 was detected (primary/BM). A comparable, but slightly higher rate of HER3 and HER4 was observed in BM.

In BM 55 % HER1+ showed no other HERreceptor, 45 % with HER3 and 18 % with HER4. HER3 did not occur solely in BM but in 71 % with HER1 and in 57 % with HER4. HER4 was detected in 20 % solely and in 40 % with HER1 and 80 % with HER3.

Conclusion Most often HER1receptors were expressed in BM while HER2 could not be found neither in primary nor in BM. Although HER4 was rarer in BM it was communitarised with HER3 in most cases.

Publication History

Article published online:
07 October 2020