title: HER family receptors expression in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue: study of the possible prognostic and biological significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (SCCT) is biologically and epidemiologically distinct from other oral cavity cancers and is associated with lower overall survival rates. The role of HER family members (HER-1, HER-2/neu, HER-3 and HER-4) in the pathogenesis and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas has been demonstrated but no report have focused on SCCT. This study investigated, the expression of all members of the HER family, in a series of SCCT and studied the possible prognostic value and correlation with various clinico-pathological parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  HER-1, HER-2/neu, HER-3 and HER-4 expression was analysed by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical staining on paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 40 patients who underwent surgery for SCCT between 1996 and 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HER-1 was overexpressed in 26 cases (65%), HER-2/neu in two (5%), HER-3 in 19 (48%) and HER-4 in three cases (8%). No significant correlation was found between clinicopathological variables and expression of HER-1 and HER-2/neu. HER-3 overexpression was significantly related to nodal stage, age (>or=64 years) and decreased overall survival (P <or= 0.05). HER-4 overexpression was significantly associated with low histological grade including when it was coexpressed with HER-3 but in this case the prognosis was worse (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that HER-1 and HER-2/neu when determined with stringent criteria are not useful indicators of prognosis in SCCT. Only HER-3 overexpression may help in identifying SCCT with greater malignant potential also when it is coexpressed with HER-4. Instead, as in other malignancies, HER-4 could play a protective role in SCCT.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathological Anatomy and Histology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia. rachele.delsordo@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Del Sordo
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Angiero
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellezza
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavaliere
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mameli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefani
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dessy
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sidoni
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D002423:Cause of Death; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000032:analysis*; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D015996:Survival Rate; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; C512478:EGFR protein, human; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human