Dr. Hammond Discusses HER2 Testing Guideline Revisions

M. Elizabeth Hammond, MD, Pathologist, Intermountain Healthcare, Professor of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, discusses some of the issues that led to the ongoing ASCO/CAP HER2 testing guideline revisions, which will likely be published in 2013.

The current set of HER2 testing guidelines were produced in response to the evidence that was available in 2007. However, recent clinical trials have called the accuracy of HER2 testing into questions, requiring that the guidelines be updated. Hammond explains that revisions are common and essential for most guidelines, as new evidence becomes available or in response to confusion.

The previous HER2 guidelines included three test result categories: positive, equivocal, and negative. As an example of some of the revisions to the guidelines, Hammond states that the equivocal category caused consternation among pathologists and physicians, requiring revision. The revised guidelines will call for mandatory retesting for equivocal results.