PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 689, p3 - 19 Oct 2013 Updated guideline on HER2 testing released by CAP/ASCO An updated guideline on human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing in patients with invasive breast cancer has been released by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The guideline recommends that all newly diagnosed invasive breast cancers be tested for HER2 status using either immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization. If the test is positive, patients should be considered for HER2-targeted therapy (eg trastuzumab, lapatinib, etc), but if the result is negative such therapy should not be given. This testing will improve "our ability to identify cancer subtypes that will lead to more individualized therapeutic decisions and that are shown to improve clinical outcomes is rapidly improving", says co-chair of the ASCO/CAP HER2 Testing in Breast Cancer Panel and professor of oncology at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Antonio C. Wolff. The College of American Pathologists, et al. CAP and ASCO Release Updated Guideline on HER2 Testing in Breast Cancer. Media Release : 7 Oct 2013. Available from: URL: http://www.cap.org 809154670 1173-5503/13/0689-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2013 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 19 Oct 2013 No. 689