Significance of HER-2/neu expression in ovarian epithelial tumours / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate expression of Her-2/neu (c-erbB-2) and its significance in ovarian epithelial tumors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>106 specimens and clinical history of ovarian epithelial tumors were collected including 54 cases of malignant, 33 cases of borderline and 19 benign cases. There were 19 cases of stages I and II and 35 cases of stages III and IV in ovarian carcinoma and all borderline malignant cases were stage I according to FIGO's standard. Immunohistochemical staining for Her-2/neu was performed by LSAB method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positives rates of Her-2/neu of benign, borderline and malignant tumors were 47.4% (9/19), 84.8% (28/33,), and 85.2% (46/54), respectively. Both borderline and malignant cases were found to have higher expression of Her-2/neu than those of benign cases (P < 0.02 and P < 0.01) respectively. Overexpression of Her-2/neu showed in 14/54 (25.9%) of malignant cases, 3/33 (9.1%) of borderline, and none of benign cases. Overexpression of Her-2/neu in malignant tumors cases with metastasis was higher than those without metastasis (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overexpression of Her-2/neu is associated with biological aggressiveness of ovarian cancer.</p>