The significance of Erb-b2 immunostaining in cervical cancer.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between survival and erb-b2 immunohistochemical staining in patients with early stage cervical carcinoma.


METHODS
Archival specimens for 126 patients with stage IB/IIA cervical carcinoma treated with radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic node dissection (RH-BPND) were retrieved and submitted to immunohistochemistry for ERBB2 expression. The association between positive results and poor survival was assessed in a multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
Erb-b2 immunostaining was significantly associated with poor survival (P = 0.0284) but less so than parametrial extension (P = 0.0014) and nodal disease (P = 0.0106). Tumor type (squamous/adenosquamous/adenocarcinoma) and the status of surgical margins were not significantly associated with survival.


CONCLUSIONS
These results supported further investigations of ERBB2 expression as a marker of high-risk disease in patients treated with RH-BPND.
Nevin
J
J
Department of Gynaecological Oncology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Laing
D
D
Kaye
P
P
McCulloch
T
T
Barnard
R
R
Silcocks
P
P
Blackett
T
T
Paterson
M
M
Sharp
F
F
Cruse
P
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality*; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality*
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases