Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization to Detect HER-2/neu Gene Amplification in Histological and ThinPrep^®-Processed Breast Cancer Fine-Needle Aspirates: A Sensitive and Practical Method in the Trastuzumab Era

CME Activity Information
Release Date:	September 1, 2006
Most Recent Review:	September 1, 2006*
Most Recent Update:	September 1, 2006
Date Credit Expires:	September 1, 2008
Time to Complete:	1 hour
Medium:	Internet Online
*Click here to learn more about our review process.

Instructions for Participation

1. Read the following information before beginning the educational activity and click the "Take this course" link at the bottom of the page
2. Study the educational activity
3. Complete the CME quiz and evaluation
4. After successful completion of the CME quiz and evaluation, you will receive the credit or participation certificate

   *The CME quiz and evaluation must be completed by September 1, 2008, in order to receive the credit or participation certificate.

1. Explain the importance of an accurate evaluation of HER-2 status to select breast cancer patients for trastuzumab therapy.
2. Describe the current methods that assess HER-2 status in breast cancer.
3. Discuss the advantages and limits of the CISH method for the detection of HER-2/neu gene amplification in histology and ThinPrep®-processed breast cancer fine-needle aspirates.

All information is submitted and reviewed and found to be scientifically rigorous, based on the best available evidence, fair and balanced, and free of commercial bias. All the recommendations involving clinical medicine in this CME activity are based on evidence that is accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients. All scientific research referred to, reported or used in CME in support or justification of a patient care recommendation conforms to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection and analysis.

Any potential conflicts of interests are resolved via The Oncologist's anonymous peer review process: http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/misc/ifora.shtml. All manuscripts are reviewed by the Editorial Board with ad hoc assistance from two or more external experts in the field. All final publication decisions are made by the Editorial Board. The acceptance of a manuscript is based on its originality and importance to the field as assessed by the Editors.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy. Telephone: 390652666905; Fax: 390652666139; E-mail: vocaturo{at}ifo.it.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Flavia Novelli, Ph.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Maria Benevolo, Ph.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Giulia Piperno, Ph.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Ferdinando Marandino, M.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Anna Maria Cianciulli, Ph.D.

Credentials: Clinical Pathology and Breast Disease Management Team, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Roberta Merola, Ph.D.

Credentials: Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Raffaele Perrone Donnorso, M.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Isabella Sperduti, Ph.D.

Credentials: Biostatistics Unit, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Simonetta Buglioni, Ph.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.

Marcella Mottolese, Ph.D.

Credentials: Pathology Department and Breast Disease Management Team, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
Disclosures: The author has indicated that they discuss the unlabeled, investigational, or alternative use(s) of Zymed's CISH to evaluate HER-2 gene amplification.