Journal of International Oncology ›› 2026, Vol. 53 ›› Issue (1): 53-56.doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn371439-20250225-00007

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Research progress of HER2 ultra-low expression breast cancer

Liu Xinlei1, Li Yaru1, Chen Shuning1, Tang Shenghao2, Qin Yan1, Liu Yankui1, Qi Xiaowei1()   

  1. 1Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214000, China
    2Jiangnan University Wuxi School of Medicine, Wuxi 214000, China
  • Received:2025-02-25 Online:2026-01-08 Published:2026-01-13
  • Contact: Qi Xiaowei E-mail:qixiaowei97@126.com
  • Supported by:
    Wuxi Municipal Health Commission Research Project(M202518)

Abstract:

Current clinical research and practice have indicated that patients with low human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression breast cancer can experience therapeutic advantages from treatments with novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). HER2 ultra-low expression in breast cancer is characterized by an immunohistochemical score of 0, with ≤10% of invasive tumor cells showing incomplete or faint membrane staining. This subgroup constitutes approximately 10%-15% of all breast cancer cases. In comparison to HER2-low expression, tumors with HER2 ultra-low expression display certain differences in clinicopathological characteristics, treatment responses, and prognostic outcomes. Paying attention to HER2 ultra-low expression status and taking corresponding measures can enable these patients to achieve better clinical efficacy.

Key words: Breast neoplasms, Genes, erbB-2, Gene expression, Antibody-drug conjugate