C-ERBB-2 STATUS IS AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR OF SURVIVAL AFTER FIRST RECURRENCE

We studied retrospectively the interaction between c-erbB-2 overexpres sion and the prognosis in 239 invasive breast cancer patients who unde rwent radical operations between January 1984 and April 1991. The c-er bB-2 protein was overexpressed in 42 (17.6%) of 239 patients. There wa s no correlation between c-erbB-2 overexpression and age at operation, tumor size, lymph node involvement, or clinical stage. Only an invers e correlation was found between c-erbB-2 overexpression and hormone re ceptor levels. Patients with c-erbB-2 overexpression had a significant ly worse overall survival than those without c-erbB-2 overexpression. In relation to lymph node involvement or estrogen receptor status, a s ignificant difference in overall survival between the c-erbB-2-positiv e and -negative groups was found in patients with lymph node metastasi s or in those with estrogen receptor-negative tumors. Out of 237 patie nts (two were lost to follow-up), 42 recurred and 25 died of breast ca ncer. The c-erbB-2-negative patients survived significantly longer aft er the time of first recurrence than the c-erbB-2-positive patients. I n a multivariate analysis using Cox proportional-hazard regression mod el, c-erbB-2 status and disease-free interval were independent predict ors of survival after first recurrence. In conclusion, c-erbB-2 status is an independent prognostic indicator of survival after first recurr ence.