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
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.