The prognostic value of HER-2/neu oncogene in cervical cancer.
BACKGROUND
Expression of the HER-2/neu oncogene has been suggested to confer added virulence or aggressive behavior in gynecologic malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of HER-2/neu expression in invasive cervical cancer and its impact on survival in women with cervical cancer.


METHODS
Archival tissue from 150 patients with cervical carcinoma was evaluated immunohistochemically for HER-2/neu oncoprotein expression. Survival information was retrieved retrospectively from patients' medical records.


RESULTS
The HER-2/neu expression was observed in 34 out of 150 tumors (22%). The HER-2/neu positive tumors exhibited considerable heterogeneity in the distribution of immunoreactive tumor cells. Tumor grade and histology did not influence the pattern or intensity of HER-2/neu expression. There was no statistically significant difference in survival of patients with HER-2/neu positive and those with HER-2/neu negative tumors (P = 0.50). Tumor stage at diagnosis was the only covariate with prognostic significance in patient survival (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Expression of HER-2/neu oncogene is a rare event in cervical cancer. Immunohistochemical detection of HER-2/neu expression is neither a predictor of survival of patients with cervical cancer nor does it identify subgroups of patients at higher risk for recurrence of disease.
Ndubisi
B
B
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville 32209, USA.
Sanz
S
S
Lu
L
L
Podczaski
E
E
Benrubi
G
G
Masood
S
S
D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009857:Oncogenes; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases