Joanna D.Solarewicz

All Publications

• HER2 In Situ Hybridization: Validation and Implementation of Brightfield Assay in a US Academic Pathology Laboratory. Applied immunohistochemistry & molecular morphology : AIMM Troxell, M. L., Dussaq, A. M., Solarewicz, J., Salisbury, T., Young, K., Hsu, N., Hammer, P., Karakas, C., Ollila, E., Zhang, X., Lam, M. M., Ernst, K., West, R. B., Allison, K. H., Bean, G. R. 2026

  Abstract

  Assessment of HER2 overexpression and gene (ERBB2) amplification remains an essential predictive test that determines tailored breast cancer therapy. Based on institutional needs, we recently validated the VENTANA HER2 Dual ISH DNA Probe Cocktail assay (DISH). Validation included testing 61 retrospective breast cancers, followed by 40 prospective cases (parallel testing). There was 99% concordance for binary positive/negative status when correlated with immunohistochemistry, and 87% concordance for exact ISH category (groups 1 to 5). We designed an online tool for automatic calculation of ratios and group assignment, with prompts for additional counting when needed. During the first year, 1286 DISH assays were performed, with 2.9% initial assay failures requiring repeat. Based on conservative guidelines in the first year, we sent confirmatory fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 4% of cases; 9 cases (0.7%) had discordant DISH and FISH results, all of which were near a threshold (including "low amplified" results with HER2/CEP17 ≥2, average HER2/cell 4 to 6). The average turnaround time for HER2 DISH from ordering to finalization was 3.0 days, versus 4.8 days for FISH at our institution (37.5% improvement). We encountered occasional pitfalls, including zones lacking hybridization signals, and enhanced silver dust associated with anthracosis or tattoo pigment. We also observed differences across whole slide scanner platforms. HER2 DISH advantages included the ability of pathologists to directly score slides in correlation with morphology and immunohistochemistry, improved turnaround time, and greater automation for high-volume HER2 testing, as compared with FISH. In summary, we found HER2 DISH to be an accurate and practical alternative.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PAI.0000000000001328

  View details for PubMedID 42273884

• Hormone Receptor and HER2 Testing in Breast Cancer: Latest Questions Answered. Surgical pathology clinics Solarewicz, J., Allison, K. H. 2025; 18 (4): 735-750

  Abstract

  Evolving data continue to require pathologists to adjust breast cancer biomarker interpretation and reporting. ER low positive and HER2 low/ultralow are not distinct subtypes of breast cancer but have important treatment implications. ER low positive (1%-10%) cancers resemble ER-negative tumors but may still benefit from endocrine therapy. HER2 low and ultralow, as defined in DESTINY-Breast 04/06 trials, guide eligibility for trastuzumab-deruxtecan in metastatic cases. Accurate distinction between HER2 IHC 0/no staining versus 0+/some staining, is therefore, now necessary despite concerns about its reproducibility and predictive power.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.path.2025.07.004

  View details for PubMedID 41224416

• Buried Deep. Journal of hospital medicine Ruge, M., Surati, M., Manesh, R., Segreti, J., Solarewicz, J., Mba, B. 2021; 16 (12): 757-762

  View details for DOI 10.12788/jhm.3584

  View details for PubMedID 34338628

• Subdeltoid Rice Bodies in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis on Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Therapy: A Case Report. JBJS case connector Fice, M., Patel, V., Solarewicz, J., Gusho, C., Miller, I., Blank, A. 2021; 11 (2)

  Abstract

  A 58-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on disease modifying antirheumatic drug therapy presented with chronic right shoulder pain. Magnetic resonance imaging was concerning for rice body disease which was confirmed through histology after intraoperative deltoid bursa resection.Rice bodies can develop regardless of RA symptom severity or the degree of RA medical therapy administered. Therefore, physicians should not disregard rice bodies as a possible cause of symptoms in individuals on appropriate RA medical therapy or who are demonstrating adequate RA symptom and flair control.

  View details for DOI 10.2106/JBJS.CC.20.00879

  View details for PubMedID 34115659

• Progressive Dyspnea and Pleural Effusion-When the Answer Lies Buried in the History. The American journal of medicine Bell, E., Schwartz, M., Abrams, R. I., Solarewicz, J., Khandelwal, S. 2021; 134 (1): 57-59

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.04.040

  View details for PubMedID 32511956

• Adiponectin secretion from cardiomyocytes produces canonical multimers and partial co-localization with calsequestrin in junctional SR. Molecular and cellular biochemistry Solarewicz, J., Manly, A., Kokoszka, S., Sleiman, N., Leff, T., Cala, S. 2019; 457 (1-2): 201-214

  Abstract

  Adiponectin (ADN) is an abundant protein in serum, secreted by adipocytes, that acts as a signal for fat metabolism. It is marked by a complex molecular structure that results from processes within the secretory pathway, producing a canonical set of multimers. ADN may also be secreted from cardiomyocytes, where a unique sarcomeric endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) substructure has been characterized primarily for its Ca handling. We expressed ADN in cultured primary adult cardiomyocytes and nonmuscle (COS) cells. After 48 h of ADN expression by adenovirus treatment, roughly half of synthesized ADN was secreted from cardiomyocytes, and half was still in-transit within inner membrane compartments, similar to COS cells. Cardiomyocytes and COS cells both produced ADN in the three canonical forms: trimers, hexamers, and 18-mers. Higher rates of secretion occurred for higher-molecular weight multimers, especially 18-mers. The highest levels of ADN protein, whether in transit or secreted, were present as trimers and hexamers. In nonmuscle cell lines, ADN trafficked through ER and Golgi compartments as expected. In contrast, ADN in primary adult cardiomyocytes populated ER/SR tubules along the edges of sarcomeres that emanated from nuclear surfaces. Prominent co-localization of ADN occurred with calsequestrin, a marker of junctional SR, the Ca2+-release compartment of the cell. The early steps in ADN trafficking re-trace those recently described for newly made junctional SR proteins, involving a nuclear envelope (NE) translocation into SR tubules that are oriented along sarcolemmal transverse (T)-tubules (NEST pathway).

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11010-019-03524-9

  View details for PubMedID 30919218