Expression of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 protooncogene proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
To examine the occurrence of ErbB-3 and ErbB- 4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma, as well as investigate statistical correlations between the expression of these protooncogene proteins and clinical and pathological tumor characteristics.


METHODS
Nineteen oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Positive immunostaining for ErbB-3 was found in 13/19 (68%) cases and for ErbB-4 in 10/19 (52%). The intensity of immunostaining for ErbB-3 positive cases was low in 8 (42.1%) and high in 5 (26.3%) cases, and for ErbB-4 ones was low in 6 (31.6%) and high in 4 (21%) of the 19 cases. ErbB-4 overexpression and TNM stage showed a significant correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.467; P=0.04). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overexpression of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 had no an influence on survival (P>0.05), but TNM stage was inversely related to survival (P=0.04). There was a significant association between the expression of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 (chi2=6.193, P=0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study suggest that c-erbB-4 may contribute to tumor growth and progression.
Servicio de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial, Hospital Central de Asturias, Facultad de Medicina de Oviedo, España. jvicente@correo.uniovi.es
Juan Carlos
JC
de Vicente
Isabel
I
Esteban
Patricia
P
Germanà
Antonino
A
Germanà
José Antonio
JA
Vega
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4
C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4