EXPRESSION OF C-ERBB-2, C-MYC, AND C-RAS ONCOPROTEINS, INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR-I, AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

Aims-To assess whether the overexpression of five dominant oncogene en coded proteins is crucial to the pathogenesis of ovarian carcinoma and whether this provides any useful prognostic information. Methods-The expression of the insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor (ILGFR 1), epid ermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and the c-erbB-2, c-ras, and c-my c products was studied by multiparameter flow cytometry in 80 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer for whom long term follow up was avail able. Results-Overexpression of ILGFR 1, EGFR, c-erbB-2, c-ras and c-m yc was found in, respectively, nine of 80 (11%), 10 of 80 (12%), 19 of 80 (24%), 16 of 80 (20%) and 28 of 80 (35%) ovarian carcinomas. The l evels of expression of ILGFR 1, EGFR, c-erbB-2 and c-ras were signific antly higher in the tumours of patients with recurrent or persistent d isease after chemotherapy than in the tumours of patients at initial p resentation (p < 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that residual tum our (p < 0.001), FIGO stage (p = 0.002), EGFR overexpression (p = 0.03 0) and previous chemotherapy (p = 0.034) were independent variables fo r predicting survival. Conclusions-Overexpression of these oncoprotein s only occurs in a small proportion of ovarian carcinomas but may have an important role in the progression of the disease.