Ovarian granulosa cell tumors frequently express EGFR (Her-1), Her-3, and Her-4: An immunohistochemical study.
OBJECTIVE
Up to 50% of patients with ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) will develop recurrences; some of these recurrences can be seen as late as 30 years following the initial surgical treatment. Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy are currently used for patients with advanced or recurrent disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible eligibility of patients with GCTs for anti-Her therapy.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical expression of EGFR (Her-1), Her-2, Her-3, and Her-4 was analyzed in a group of ovarian GCTs encompassing 38 adult type and 2 juvenile type.


RESULTS
Thirty-one cases (77.5%) were positive for at least one of the receptors EGFR (Her-1), Her-3, and Her-4. Twenty-six out of 40 (65%) GCTs showed positive reaction for EGFR (Her-1). Eight tumors (20%) were exclusively positive for EGFR (Her-1). None of 40 cases showed a positive reaction for Her-2. Positive reactions for Her-3 and Her-4 were observed in 18 (45%) and 23 (57.5%) tumors. Only one case (2.5%) was exclusively positive for Her-4. Four tumors (10%) showed positivity for Her-3 and Her-4 but were negative for EGFR (HER-1). While one of the two JGCTs was negative for all members of the Her-family, one showed reactivity for EGFR (Her-1), Her-3, and Her-4.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, most of the ovarian GCTs express at least one of the receptors EGFR (Her-1), Her-3, and Her-4. These findings provide some evidence to further explore the potential use of agents targeting these receptors (particularly EGFR) in the treatment of ovarian GCTs.
Leibl
Sebastian
S
Department of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 25, A-8036 Graz, Austria.
Bodo
Koppany
K
Gogg-Kammerer
Margit
M
Hrzenjak
Andelko
A
Petru
Edgar
E
Winter
Raimund
R
Denk
Helmut
H
Moinfar
Farid
F
D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006106:Granulosa Cell Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4
C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4