title: Genetic alterations in c-erbB-2 protooncogene as prognostic markers in human primary breast tumors.
abstract: c-erbB-2 DNA amplification and mRNA expression were analyzed by dot and Southern blots in 65 human primary breast tumors. Gene amplification was observed in 21 of 65 (32.3%) and elevated levels of c-erbB-2 transcript in 14 of 60 (23.3%) of the tumors analyzed. Only 55% of the tumors with c-erbB-2 gene amplification presented gene overexpression, showing an incomplete correlation between gene amplification and overexpression. No statistically significant correlation was observed between c-erbB-2 genetic alterations and other prognostic factors in breast cancer. However, patients with tumors presenting c-erbB-2 gene amplification and/or overexpression appeared to have a shorter disease-free interval than patients without c-erbB-2 genetic alterations. High levels of c-erbB-2 gene amplification were more powerful predictors of risk of recurrence than was overexpression of the gene. Cox univariate-bivariate analyses suggested that gene amplification was independent of nodal status to predict recurrence in breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica da Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Torloni
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Brentani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases