The prognostic significance of human epidermal growth factor receptor correlations in squamous cell cervical carcinoma.
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and prognostic influence of HER1 (EGFR), HER2 (c-erb-B2), HER3 (c-erb-B3) and HER4 (cerb-B4) in squamous cell cervical carcinomas (SCC) and the importance of receptor correlations.


METHODS
78 SCC were stained immunohistochemically for HER1-HER4. HER2 gene amplification was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Parametric correlations were performed between the four receptors and tumor characteristics. Overall survival was evaluated by uni- and multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
Overexpression was found in 63% of SCC for HER1, in 21.8% for HER2, in 74.4% for HER3 and in 79.5% for HER4. Correlations were observed between HER1 and HER4 (p = 0.019). Survival analyses revealed a significant association of HER1 overexpression with favorable outcome (p = 0.016), while overexpression of HER2 and HER3 was associated with poor prognosis (p = 0.006; p = 0.05, respectively). HER1 remained significant in multivariate analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the prognostic relevance of the different HER receptors is influenced by the balance between the various receptors, especially of HER4.
Fuchs
I
I
Department of Gynecology, Charité C. Virchow, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. ilka.fuchs@charite.de
Vorsteher
N
N
Bühler
H
H
Evers
K
K
Sehouli
J
J
Schaller
G
G
Kümmel
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
D066246:ErbB Receptors