A method (i) to identify subjects with HER2-positive cancer that should be screened for brain metastases; (ii) to identify patients with HER2-positive cancer who should receive treatment with an agent that acts on HER2 and a second form of cancer treatment; (iii) to determine the expected time until the appearance of cerebral metastasis (TTBM) in a subject with HER2-positive cancer; (iv) to determine the relative probability that a subject with an HER2-positive cancer is at risk of developing brain metastases; and / or (v) to determine whether a subject with HER2-positive cancer is part of a subset of subjects with HER2-positive cancer that must be screened for brain metastases, comprising: (a) providing a biological sample of a tumor obtained of subject cancer; (b) measure the amount of HER2 in the biological sample; (c) determine whether the amount of HER2 protein in the subject's sample exceeds an HER2 limit, where the limit has been determined based on the measurement of the amount of HER2 protein in biological samples from a population of subjects, and the limit it divides the samples of the population of subjects into two subgroups of different patients; and (d) (i) indicate that the subject should be examined for brain metastasis if the amount of HER2 protein exceeds the HER2 limit; (ii) indicate that the subject must be treated with an agent acting on HER2 and a second form of cancer treatment, if the amount of HER2 protein exceeds the HER2 limit; (iii) indicate the expected TTMB of the subject based on the incidence of brain metastases over time, in a reference population with HER2 protein levels above or below the HER2 limit; (iv) indicate that if the amount of HER2 protein in the biological sample exceeds the HER2 limit, the subject is more likely to have a risk of developing brain metastases; and / or (v) indicate that the subject should be examined for brain metastasis if the amount of HER2 protein exceeds the HER2 limit.
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