We examined gene amplifications of the c-erbB-2 and FGF-3 gene in 48 epithe
lial ovarian cancers by differential PCR and addressed their association wi
th clinico-pathological features including clinical outcome. Overall, 25.0
and 20.8% of ovarian cancers displayed amplified c-erbB-2 or FGF-3 gene, re
spectively. Amplification of the c-erbB-2 gene was significantly associated
with particular histological cell types, higher histological grade, and lo
w levels of serous CA125. However, there was no correlation between c-erbB-
2 gene amplification and patient outcome. No correlation was observed betwe
en FGF-3 gene amplification and any clinicopathological features including
overall survival. These findings suggested that c-erbB-2 or FGF-3 gene ampl
ification might be one of the oncogenic events implicated in the developmen
t of ovarian cancers, jet is not a useful prognostic marker.