Prognostic significance of the C-erbB-2 expression in turkish non-small cell lung cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic value of c-erbB-2 expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains controversial. The prevalence of c-erbB-2 expression in NSCLC and relation to disease prognosis were therefore investigated.


METHODS
Eighty-nine patients with NSCLC diagnosed at Baskent University, Adana Hospital, Medical Oncology Department, between 2000-2005 were investigated. Expression of c-erbB-2 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in paraffin-embedded sections. Characteristics of patients, histology and stage of the disease were obtained from clinical records.


RESULTS
C-erbB-2 expression was detected in 18 patients (20.2%). Median survival of the patients with c-erbB-2 negative was 13 months, as compared to 6 months for c-erbB-2 positive cases (p=0.02), the relative risk of death being 1.96 times higher. No correlation was found between c-erbB-2 positivity and stage of the disease or histology of the tumor (p> 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
C-erbB-2 positivity may indicate shorter survival and can be regarded as an unfavorable prognostic factor in NSCLC. Immunohistochemistry seems to be a readily applicable, inexpensive methodology for determining c-erbB-2 expression in NSCLCs.
Calikusu
Zuleyha
Z
Acibadem Maslak Hospital Department of Medical Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey. zuleyha2004@hotmail.com
Yildirim
Yesim
Y
Akcali
Zafer
Z
Sakalli
Hakan
H
Bal
Nebil
N
Ozyilkan
Ozgur
O
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases