THE PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF HER-2 NEU ONCOGENE IN CERVICAL-CANCER/

Background Expression of the HER-2/neu oncogene has been suggested to confer added virulence or aggressive behavior in gynecologic malignanc ies. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of HER-2/neu expression in invasive cervical cancer and its impact on survival in w omen with cervical cancer. Design Archival tissue from 150 patients wi th cervical carcinoma was evaluated immunohistochemically for HER-2/ne u oncoprotein expression. Survival information was retrieved retrospec tively from patients' medical records. Results The HER-2/neu expressio n was observed in 34 out of 150 tumors (22%). The HER-2/neu positive t umors exhibited considerable heterogeneity in the distribution of immu noreactive tumor cells. Tumor grade and histology did not influence th e pattern or intensity of HER-2/neu expression. There was no statistic ally significant difference in survival of patients with HER-2/neu pos itive and those with HER-2/ neu negative tumors (P = 0.50). Tumor stag e at diagnosis was the only covariate with prognostic significance in patient survival (P < 0.001). Conclusion Expression of HER-2/neu oncog ene is a rare event in cervical cancer. Immunohistochemical detection of HER-2/neu expression is neither a predictor of survival of patients with cervical cancer nor does it identify subgroups of patients at hi gher risk for recurrence of disease.