[Prognostic value of ERBB2 amplification and protein expression in small cell lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to evaluate ERBB2 oncogene amplification using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and protein overexpression using immunohistochemical techniques, and to explore their possible prognostic value in a series of patients with small cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Included in the study were 99 patients with small cell tumors, classified in 2 broad groups: patients with limited locally advanced disease and patients with disseminated disease. Material for study was obtained in 97% of the cases (96/99) by means of endoscopic biopsy and by tomography-guided needle biopsy in the remaining 3% (3/99). Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.


RESULTS
The 92 men (92.9%) and 7 women (7.1%) in the study had a mean (SD) age of 62.9 (10.4) years (range, 36-81 years); 39.4% (n=39) and 60.6% (n=60) of the subjects had limited and disseminated disease, respectively. ERBB2 protein overexpression was observed in 26.3% of the patients (n=26), 15.4% (n=4) of whom had limited disease and 84.6% (n=22) of whom had disseminated disease (P=.005). Although mean survival was slightly longer for patients who were negative for ERBB2 protein overexpression, the difference was not statistically significant. FISH identified gene amplification in 6.3% (1 in 16) of the studied cases (ratio, 2.3).


CONCLUSIONS
The protein product of the ERBB2 oncogene is overexpressed in 33.3% of small cell lung carcinomas and is associated with the presence of disseminated disease. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the possible benefits of specific treatment.
Cebollero Presmanes
María
M
Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain. mpresmanes@hotmail.com
Sánchez-Mora
Nora
N
García-Gómez
Ramón
R
Herranz Aladro
María Luisa
ML
Alvarez-Fernández
Emilio
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D011379:Prognosis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D015996:Survival Rate
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human