ERBB2 (HER2 NEU) ONCOGENE IS FREQUENTLY AMPLIFIED IN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX/

We evaluated a panel of 22 protooncogenes for amplification in 50 prim ary, untreated squamous cell carcinomas of the uterine cervix. The tum ors studied belonged to clinical stages II and III; histologically, th e majority of them were moderately to well differentiated. Amplificati on represented by 5 or more copies was observed for the genes MYCL1, S EA, CCND1, BCL1, and GLI in one case each (2%); HRAS in 2 cases (4%); and ERBB2 in 7 cases (14%). Amplification of ERBB2 ranged from 5 to 68 copies. In addition, 2 tumors with ERBB2 amplification showed additio nal restriction fragments suggesting possible mutation or rearrangemen t of the gene. The high incidence of ERBB2 amplification in cervical c ancer suggests that this gene may play an important role in tumorigene sis.