C-ERBB-2 OVEREXPRESSION MAY BE USED AS AN INDEPENDENT PROGNOSTIC FACTOR FOR BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

Insight into correlations between specific gene amplification and the clinical behavior of tumors may provide new prognostic tools High c-er bB-2 expression is an early feature in some breast tumors, whereas c-m yc may be involved in the development of neoplasia. After an initial f lurry of excitement about their prognostic significance, controversy h as arisen about their independent importance In an attempt to solve th is problem, we decided to study c-erbB-2 and c-myc amplification and o verexpression in 62 unselected breast carcinomas. This was done in ord er to correlate them statistically with one another, as well as with o ther prognostic parameters. A positive correlation was discovered betw een c-erbB-2 amplification and overexpression (P = 0.02); however; the correlations between c-erbB-2 amplification and c-myc amplification a nd overexpression (P = 0.06 and P = 0.095 respectively) were found to be negative. In addition no correlation was found to exist between c-e rbB-2 amplification and Cathepsin-D, steroid receptors, node status an d menopauseal status as well as between c-erbB-2 overexpression and Ca thepsin-D, node invasiveness, tumor status grade or menopausal status. in conclusion, the c-erbB-2 overexpression has positive correlation w ith only a few other prognostic parameters, and therefore can be used as an independent prognostic factor.