Prognostic significance of c-erbB2 protein in endometrial cancer

The human protooncogene c-erbB2, also known as HER-2/neu is sited on 17q21 chromosome and codifies a transmembranous glycoprotein of 185 KD, named c-erbB2 protein, with tyrosin-kinasic activity and homologue from molecular point of view with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In order to detect the tissular expression of c-erbB2 protein, tissular samples from 10 patients with primary endometrial cancer were immmunohistochemically processed. C-erbB2 immunostaining using c-erbB2 (21N) antiserum marked the cellular membranes and, occasionally, the cytoplasma of the tumoral cells. The overexpression of c-erbB2 protein in the examed cases was correlated with the clinical status, histological type of the tumour and the differentiation degree. All the patients presented immunoreactivity of variable intensity for c-erbB2 protein. The alterations of c-erbB2 protein are considered to be an unfavourable prognostic factor implied in the tumoral progression.