HER-2 expression in uterine cervix carcinogenesis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the expression and clinical significance of HER-2 protooncogene in the uterine cervix carcinogenesis.


METHODS
We examined 69 tissue samples of low grade cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) (n=16), high grade SIL (n=11) portio vaginalis uteri (PVU) carcinoma in situ (n=11) and PVU invasive carcinoma, stage IA-IIA (n=13; study group) and 18 samples without SIL or malignancy (control group). The expression of HER-2 was detected immunohistochemically using a monoclonal antibody. Fisher's exact test was used to assess statistical significance. By establishing sensitivity and specificity of the test, the level of reliability of these analyses was determined as a possible screening method for early detection of changes in the uterine cervix.


RESULTS
Overexpression of HER-2 was found to increase in direct relation to the grade of the cervical lesions. Statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of overexpression in patients with high grade SIL, PVU carcinoma in situ and PVU invasive carcinoma compared with the control group. High sensitivity was of great diagnostic significance for the detection of these types of changes in the uterine cervix. On the basis of high predictive values it can be concluded that in patients with HER-2 overexpression there is a great possibility that they have premalignant or malignant changes in the uterine cervix.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that overexpression of HER-2 oncogene may play an important role in cervical carcinogenesis. However, more extensive series of samples is required to establish the prognostic significance of HER- 2 in cervical carcinogenesis.
Protrka
Z
Z
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia. protrka@eunet.yu
Mitrović
S
S
Arsenijević
N
N
Baskić
D
D
Radosavljević
G
G
Stanković
M
M
Arsenijević
S
S
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015854:Up-Regulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases