Her2/neu overexpression in differentiated thyroid carcinomas predicts metastatic disease.
To investigate the prognostic value of Her2/neu expression in differentiated thyroid carcinomas 103 patients were retrospectively investigated. All of them received surgical and an identical follow-up treatment. The patients with papillary and follicular thyroid cancer were further separated into two groups concerning their clinical development, including one group without distant metastasis (follow-up of minimum 8 years). The second group presented with distant metastases as a sign of an aggressive behaviour. Her2/neu was immunohistochemically detected on sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues using c-erbB-2/Her-2/neu oncoprotein Ab-17 monoclonal antibody (mAb). In statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U-test and chi(2) test, Her2/neu protein overexpression was significantly correlated with prognosis. Both tumour entities without distant metastases showed significantly less cytoplasmic immunostaining than patients with development of metastases. Concerning the clinical outcome, Her2/neu overexpression may be regarded as a prognostic factor in differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Moreover, in addition to standard radio-iodine elimination therapy, application of Herceptin could lead to new successful therapeutic concepts for a number of patients with progressive thyroid cancer.
Kremser
R
R
Institute of Pathology, University of Innsbruck, Muellerstr.44, Austria.
Obrist
P
P
Spizzo
G
G
Erler
H
H
Kendler
D
D
Kemmler
G
G
Mikuz
G
G
Ensinger
C
C
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002452:Cell Count; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases