C-erbB-2 immunostaining in laryngeal cancer

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.