Expression of HER2/neu does not correlate with survival in soft tissue sarcoma.
BACKGROUND
The expression of HER2/neu has been identified as a prognostic factor in several malignant diseases. However, only sparse data exist correlating HER2/neu expression in soft tissue sarcoma with subsequent tumor progression or recurrence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of HER2/neu in adult soft tissue sarcoma (STS).


METHODS
Tumor specimens of patients with STS were evaluated regarding HER2/neu expression using immunohistochemistry. The significance of the proposed prognostic indicators was evaluated in relation to survival and local recurrence.


RESULTS
Of 62 analyzed specimens, 43 tumors were HER2/neu negative compared to 19 HER2/neu positive tumors. Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated no difference in survival according to HER2/neu expression (p = 0.31, log-rank test = 1.10). Variables that were predictive of longer survival included better resection quality (R0, p < 0.01) and smaller tumor size (T1, p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
HER2/neu expression does not correlate with prognosis of soft tissue sarcomas. Its evaluation for tumor prognosis as well as for the identification for adjuvant therapeutic strategies does not appear warranted at this point.
Sato
T
T
Klinik für Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Peiper
M
M
Heinecke
A
A
Zurakowski
D
D
Eisenberger
C F
CF
Hosch
S
S
Knoefel
W T
WT
Izbicki
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases