c-erbB-2 Oncoprotein expression is associated with poor prognosis in squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
BACKGROUND
A polyclonal antihuman c-erbB-2 oncoprotein antibody recognized c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in routinely formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens.


METHODS
Specimens taken from 192 patients with Stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiation therapy alone were investigated for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression using an immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
Cancer cells that were positive for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein showed a surface membrane staining pattern. Of the 192 patients, 143 were negative for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, 12 were weakly positive or ambiguous, 31 were positive, and 6 were strongly positive. The 5-year survival rate of the 155 patients who tested c-erbB-2 negative or weakly positive was significantly better than that of the 37 patients whose results were positive or strongly positive (61% versus 41%, P = 0.022).


CONCLUSIONS
c-erbB-2 Oncoprotein expression in cancer cells may imply a poor prognosis for patients with Stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiation therapy alone.
Oka
K
K
Section of Clinical Laboratory, National Institute of Radiological Sciences Hospital, Chiba, Japan.
Nakano
T
T
Arai
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases