C-erbB-2 oncoprotein immunostaining in serous effusions.
The product of c-erbB-2 gene is detected in a proportion of carcinomas from various sites and is generally associated with a high degree of malignancy. A series of 58 effusions containing malignant cells and 16 cytologically negative serous effusions was assessed by immunocytochemical methods for c-erbB-2 expression using the monoclonal antibody NCL-B11, which recognizes the internal domain of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. Both alcohol-fixed smears and cell blocks from formalin-fixed specimens were used. A crisp, clear cut membrane-associated positive staining was evident in 51% (30/58) malignant effusions and was restricted to metastatic adenocarcinomas. Breast and ovarian cancers showed the highest incidence of positivity. Mesotheliomas as well as non-neoplastic effusions were consistently negative. Paraffin blocks from formalin-fixed cells displayed a weak immunoreactivity when compared with their alcohol-fixed counterparts. The study shows that the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein can be easily identified in standard cytological smears: it can be of assistance in differentiating adenocarcinomas from mesotheliomas, and in selected cases it can provide a further prognostic indicator, replacing tissue immunohistochemistry.
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Dipartimento di Biopatologia Umana, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
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D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000737:chemistry*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000737:chemistry*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases