HER-2/neu and bcl-2 in ovarian carcinoma: clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular study in patients with shorter and longer survival.
The bcl-2 protein is a membrane protein involved in prolonging cell survival by inhibiting apoptosis. The HER-2 oncogene, which is located on chromosome 17 and encodes for a tyrosine-kinase growth factor receptor, is amplified and HER-2/neu is overexpressed in 25% to 30% of breast carcinomas. The authors analyzed the bcl-2 expression and the bcl-2 gene and HER-2/neu overexpression and amplification in FIGO stage IIIC, serous, G3, ovarian carcinomas obtained from living patients who had no evident disease 5 years after primary treatment compared with ovarian carcinomas obtained from patients, matched for stage, grade of differentiation, and treatment, who had died of progression of disease no later than 2 years after primary treatment. bcl-2 overexpression was statistically correlated with progression of disease during first-line chemotherapy (P=0.021). The HER-2/neu status was found not to correlate with progression of disease during first-line chemotherapy. Both bcl-2 and HER-2/neu expression were not statistically associated with the clinical outcome of ovarian cancer patients. Gene amplification of the HER-2/neu chromosome 17 was found in all the HER-2/neu, 3+ score, positive-staining ovarian carcinomas. None of the analyzed samples revealed a translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21) in the bcl-2 gene. The knowledge of additional prognostic or even predictive factors, such as bcl-2 expression, in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma before the primary chemotherapeutic treatment may help in the management of patients who require a more tailored treatment. In addition, the gene amplification of the HER-2/neu suggests that HER-2 is a potential target for treatment in ovarian cancer.
Raspollini
Maria Rosaria
MR
Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Florence, School of Medicine, Florence, Italy. mariarosaria.raspollini@unifi.it
Amunni
Gianni
G
Villanucci
Alessandro
A
Castiglione
Francesca
F
Rossi Degl'Innocenti
Duccio
D
Baroni
Gianna
G
Paglierani
Milena
M
Taddei
Gian Luigi
GL
D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004358:Drug Therapy; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases