Tumour progression is strongly associated with a series of specific genetic
changes in protooncogenes and tumour suppressor gears. One of the potentia
l factors involved in tumorogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas is protoonc
ogene c-erbB-2 (also known as neu or HER2). The authors analysed the expres
sion of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in 154 cases of laryngeal squamous cell carcin
omas and its relationship to the clinical outcome of the patients. The diff
erence in c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression between the control group and can
cer patients was on the statistical borderline (p = 0.0470). There was no s
ignificant correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and sex and age of the p
atients, T stage, lymph node status, site and histopathological grading of
the tumour and clinical outcome of the patients. Univariate analysis reveal
ed no correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and survival rates. We conclu
de that immunohistological examination of c-erbB-2 on paraffin section is n
ot a valuable prognostic factor in laryngeal carcinoma.