Lack of elevated HER2/neu expression in epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma in Iran.
OBJECTIVE
The role of the HER family in oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) is not well-defined. This study was aimed to assess the frequency of HER2/neu overexpression in oral carcinogenesis.


METHODS
Expression of HER2/neu oncoprotein in OSCCs (N= 18), oral epithelial dysplasia (N= 18) and normal oral mucosa (N= 18) was assessed by immunohistochemistry using a cerbB2 antibody kit.


RESULTS
HER2/neu was almost undetectable in normal oral mucosa and only 1/18 (0/05) of cases was positive. In oral epithelial dysplasia, 2/18 (11.1%) demonstrated staining, as did 3/18 OSCCs. Membrane staining was observed in all cases and there was no significant variation in frequency/intensity between normal oral mucosa / oral epithelial dysplasia and OSCCs (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Aberrant expression of HER2/neu apparently does not contribute to carcinogenesis in the oral epithelium. The lack of overexpression in OSCCs indicates that molecular targeting is not feasible for adjuvant treatment.
Seifi
Safoura
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. sf_seify@yahoo.com
Shafaei
Shahriar N
SN
Nosrati
Kamran
K
Ariaeifar
Behzad
B
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007492:Iran; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D015854:Up-Regulation
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases