Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and prognostic influence of HER1 (EGFR), HER2 (c-erb-B2), HER3 (c-erb-B3) and HER4 (cerb-B4) in squamous cell cervical carcinomas (SCC) and the importance of receptor correlations. Patients and Methods: 78 SCC were stained immunohistochemically for HER1-HER4. HER2 gene amplification was determined using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Parametric correlations were performed between the four receptors and tumor characteristics. Overall survival was evaluated by uni- and multivariate analyses. Results: Overexpression was found in 63% of SCC for HER1, in 21.8% for HER2, in 74.4% for HER3 and in 79.5% for HER4. Correlations were observed between HER1 and HER4 (p=0.019). Survival analyses revealed a significant association of HER1 overexpression with favorable outcome (p=0.016), while overexpression of HER2 and HER3 was associated with poor prognosis (p=0.006; p=0.05, respectively). HER1 remained significant in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: These data suggest that the prognostic relevance of the different HER receptors is influenced by the balance between the various receptors, especially of HER4.
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- cervical cancer
- HER family
- fluorescence in situ hybridization
- gene amplification
Footnotes
- Received November 23, 2006.
- Revision received January 18, 2007.
- Accepted January 23, 2007.
- Copyright© 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved