OBJECTIVES: The HER-2/neu oncogene is overexpressed in many types of cancer and 
especially in 25% to 30% of breast cancers. Single reports mention HER-2/neu 
positivity in hematological malignancies like Hodgkins's disease and even 
diffuse large-cell lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE: To test for HER-2/neu overexpression in patients with non-Hodgkin's 
lymphoma and the possible role of the recombinant monoclonal anti-HER-2/neu 
antibody trastuzumab (Herceptin) in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples from 87 consecutive unselected patients 
with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were retrospectively retrieved from a serum bank and 
tested for the shed antigen of HER-2/neu using the Oncogene Sciences ELISA assay 
(Cambridge, MA, USA). From those lymphoma patients, the paraffin-embedded 
lymph-node specimens of 25 cases with diffuse large-cell lymphoma were stained 
with the HER-2/neu DAKO HercepTest.
RESULTS: In 87 lymphoma patients, the serum level of HER-2/neu ranged from 3.6 
to 244.1 ng/ml (median 8.0 ng/ml). Only 2 patients showed a marginal or 
increased HER-2/neu level with 15 ng/ml (which is the upper limit of normal) and 
244.1 ng/ml, respectively. No patient with diffuse large-cell lymphoma showed 
HER-2/neu overexpression by immunhistochemistry of the lymph node. The paraffin 
block of the one patient with a very high HER-2/neu serum level was also stained 
for HER-2/neu overexpression. In this patient, suffering from a high-grade 
T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, no staining could be found.
CONCLUSION: HER-2/neu is not overexpressed in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 
especially not in diffuse large-cell lymphoma, using a standardized 
immunochemistry technique with complementary serum testing. Thus, specific 
anti-HER-2/neu-targeted therapy should play no role in the treatment of 
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.