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Prognostic significance of c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein expression in intestinal‐type adenocarcinoma of the sinonasal tract
Author(s) -
Gallo Oreste,
Franchi Alessandro,
FiniStorchi Isabelle,
Cilento Gennaro,
Boddi Vieri,
Boccuzzi Simone,
Urso Carmelo
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0347(199805)20:3<224::aid-hed7>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - adenocarcinoma , univariate analysis , erbb , pathology , carcinogenesis , medicine , biology , immunohistochemistry , paranasal sinuses , cancer research , oncology , multivariate analysis , receptor , cancer
Background The c‐erbB‐2 gene codes for a putative transmembrane protein, similar in structure to the epidermal growth factor receptor. Amplification and/or overexpression of the gene has been recently described with a prognostic significance in a variety of human adenocarcinomas. Methods A monoclonal antibody against the c‐erbB‐2 oncoprotein has been used immunocytochemically in a retrospective study of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded samples from 28 consecutive intestinal‐type adenocarcinomas (ITACs) of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Results Nine out of 28 primary adenocarcinomas (32%) showed positive staining. Clinical follow‐up data, available for all patients, suggested in a univariate analysis a correlation between c‐erbB‐2 expression and poor prognosis, as measured by 5‐year disease‐free ( p = .02) and overall survival curves ( p = .07) as well as by recurrence of disease and the appearance of regional and distant metastases ( p = .08). In multivariate analysis, c‐erbB‐2 expression was statistically significant in terms of disease‐free survival ( p = .046) but not of overall survival ( p = .091) in our series. Conclusions These data indicate that c‐erbB‐2 oncogene activation could be involved in sinonasal tract oncogenesis, with possible prognostic implications. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Head Neck 20:224–231, 1998.