Should Fish Test Be Performed to All Patients with Breast Cancer?

CerbB2 receptor determination is very important for the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer. The most used two methods for CerbB2 receptor determination are immunohistochemistry and FISH methods. FISH method is recommended for immunohistochemically CerbB2 (++) patient group. Therefore, even though the immunohistochemically CerbB2 (++) patients are in the same group, FISH test divides the results into two separate groups. Our study compared these two groups in terms of relaps duration. Total of 85 patients from The Kayseri Research and Training Hospital in Kayseri, Kayseri Erciyes University Hospital and Mersin State Hospital were included in this study. The relaps duration of the patients were determined and then compared statistically. When the mean disease free survival was compared for FISH(+) and FISH(-) groups, the mean DFS was 46±5 and 73±8 months. However, the median DFS was 38±9 months for the FISH positive group. No median PFS was reached for FISH (-) group. Immunohistochemically CerbB2 (++) breast cancer patients are considered as in the same group, however actually they have different prognostic features. Similarly, when the immunohistochemical tests and FISH tests are compared for CerbB2 positivity, different results are obtained. As a consequence of that, the therapy alternatives will be changed. Therefore, we conclude that the FISH test should be performed to all patients.