title: Expression of c-erbB proto-oncogene family members in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: The exact role of oncogenes and proto-oncogenes in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) is still debatable. The expression of the c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 members of the epidermal growth factor receptor family was examined in 16 fresh frozen tissue specimens of SCCHN using avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemistry, with monoclonal and/or polyclonal antibodies directed against each. Eight fresh frozen tissue specimens of normal oral mucosa were included as controls. Of the SCCHN examined, mixed membrane/cytoplasmic staining (moderate to intense) of c-erbB-2 was found in 14/16 cases (88%). When present in the specimen, immunopositive staining of c-erbB-2 was seen in some of the oral surface epithelial cell layers (basal, intermediate and/or superficial) as well as the tumour islands. Weak cytoplasmic staining of c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 was found in 13/16 (81%) and 11/16 (69%) cases respectively. When present in the specimen, c-erbB-3 and cerbB-4 immunopositive staining was seen in some of the oral surface epithelial cell layers (basal, intermediate and/or superficial) as well as the tumour islands. For the positive carcinomas for c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4, the epithelium located near the carcinomas showed weak mixed membrane/cytoplasmic staining of c-erbB-2 in 5/14 cases (36%), weak cytoplasmic staining of c-erbB-3 in 7/13 cases (54%) and of c-erbB-4 in 3/11 cases (27%). All the normal control oral mucosa showed the same pattern of staining for c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 found in the epithelium located near the carcinomas. Only expression of c-erbB-2 was found to correlate with the increase in the tumour stage, while co-expression of c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 was found to correlate with the patient survival time in 25% of the carcinomas examined. The present study shows that a) expression of c-erbB-2, but not c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 correlates with the increase of the tumour stage b) co-expression of c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3 and c-erbB4 correlates with decreased survival time in some of the cases of SCCHN, but not the majority c) co-expression of the c-erbB family in normal oral mucosa as well as in the carcinoma may question whether the increased tendency for development of the disease is due to co-expression of c-erbB proto-oncogenes in head and neck lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology-Oral Pathology and Forensic Odontology, University of Bergen, Norway. Sosman@gades.uib.no
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Vasstrand
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Liavaag
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Johannessen
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lillehaug
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005810:Multigene Family; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human