ERBB2 (HER2) protein expression in uterine sarcomas.
OBJECTIVE
Multiple clinical trials in recent years have shown that breast cancer patients with primary tumors overexpressing ERBB2 can be effectively treated with specific forms of modern anti-ERBB2-targeted therapy. The aim of the present study was to analyze the expression of the ERBB2 (HER2) protein in uterine sarcomas, in order to investigate the possibility of applying this treatment modality in uterine sarcomas.


METHODS
The expression of ERBB2 has been analyzed immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary uterine sarcomas (n = 11).


RESULTS
Using a semi-quantitative immunohistochemical score, we found that ERBB2 expression was very weak in the majority of tumors, with only three sarcomas showing moderate ERBB2 expression. Published studies evaluating the same issue in small numbers of uterine sarcomas reached similar findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, ERBB2 expression appears to be weak in uterine sarcomas. However, targeted treatment might still be feasible in a subgroup of patients with uterine sarcomas overexpressing ERBB2.
Zafrakas
M
M
1st Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, Greece. mzafrakas@gmail.com
Zepiridis
L
L
Theodoridis
T D
TD
Venizelos
I D
ID
Papanicolaou
A
A
Agorastos
T
T
Bontis
J N
JN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases