PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF C-ERBB-2 ONCOPROTEIN EXPRESSION IN INTESTINAL-TYPE ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE SINONASAL TRACT

Citation
O. Gallo et al., PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE OF C-ERBB-2 ONCOPROTEIN EXPRESSION IN INTESTINAL-TYPE ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE SINONASAL TRACT, Head & neck, 20(3), 1998, pp. 224-231
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Otorhinolaryngology
Journal title
ISSN journal
10433074
Volume
20
Issue
3
Year of publication
1998
Pages
224 - 231
Database
ISI
SICI code
1043-3074(1998)20:3<224:POCOEI>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
Background. The c-erbB-2 gene codes for a putative transmembrane prote in. similar in structure to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Ampl ification and/or overexpression of the gene has been recently describe d with a prognostic significance in a variety of human adenocarcinomas . Methods. A monoclonal antibody against the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein has been used immunocytochemically in a retrospective study of formalin-fi xed, paraffin-embedded samples from 28 consecutive intestinal-type ade nocarcinomas (ITACs) of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Results. Nine out of 28 primary adenocarcinomas (32%) showed positive staining. Clin ical follow-up data, available for all patients, suggested in a univar iate analysis a correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and poor progn osis, as measured by 5-year disease-free (rho=.02) and overall surviva l curves (rho=.07) as well as by recurrence of disease and the appeara nce of regional and distant metastases (rho =.08). in multivariate ana lysis, c-erbB-2 expression was statistically significant in terms of d isease-free survival (rho=.046) but not of overall survival (rho=.091) in our series. Conclusions. These data indicate that c-erbB-2 oncogen e activation could be involved in sinonasal tract oncogenesis, with po ssible prognostic implications. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.