EXPRESSION AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF C-ERBB-2 ONCOGENE PRODUCT IN HUMANPHEOCHROMOCYTOMAS

Aims: Amplification of c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene has been reported in en docrine tumours, but the results were unclear and no predictive progno stic value has been established in the case of phaeochromocytoma. We i nvestigated the immunohistochemical expression of c-erbB-2 oncogene in 34 cases of human phaeochromocytoma (27 sporadic, seven familial type MEN (multiple endocrine neoplasm)) in order to find out if it could b e used to differentiate sporadic and familial forms and whether c-erbB -2 expression is related to tumour biological behaviour, Methods and r esults: All the cases showed diffuse, generally heterogeneous, intracy toplasmic granular c-erbB-2 staining, The percentage of tumour cells e xpressing c-erbB-2 was used as the comparative variable, The percentag e of c-erbB-2) positive cells had a statistically significant (P < 0.0 01) relationship with tumour aggressiveness, as manifested by the pres ence of distant metastasis or association with other malignant neoplas ms, We also found significantly higher levels (P = 0.007) of c-erbB-2 overexpression in MEN phaeochromocytoma than in sporadic cases, Conclu sions: These results clarify the important role of c-erbB-2 proto-onco gene in the pathogenesis of human phaeochromocytoma and confirm the un favourable prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 expression.