Prognostic value of c-erbB-2 protein expression in human lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma

203 primary human lung tumours, of which 119 were adenocarcinoma and 84 were squamous cell carcinoma, were investigated immunohistochemically for the expression of c-erbB-2 protein. Positive staining was evident in 33 (28%) of adenocarcinomas and 2 (2%) of squamous cell carcinomas. In cases of adenocarcinoma, c-erbB-2 was present in 18% of those with stage I disease. In stage IIIA, stage IIIB and stage IV cases, c-erbB-2 was present in 39%, 50% and 60%, respectively (I vs. IIIA and I vs. IIIB: P less than 0.05, I vs. IV: P less than 0.01). The 5-year survival rates of c-erbB-2 positive patients and those who were negative were 30% and 52%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P less than 0.01). These observations suggest that when the expression of c-erbB-2 correlates with invasiveness of the tumour, this correlation may serve as a prognostic indicator, particularly in cases of adenocarcinoma of the lung.