Overexpression of C-erbb-2 protein in endometrial carcinoma is associated with advanced-stage disease

Expression of the c-erbB-2 product (p185(c-erbB-2)) was examined in plasma membrane isolations from 14 uterine endometrial carcinomas and 3 normal endometrial tissues. Overexpression of p185(c-erbB-2) was found in 8 of 9 endometrial carcinomas of stages III and IV and in none of 5 early stage specimens, when compared with the level in normal endometrial tissues. The expression of p185(c-erbB-2) was independent of histological grade. When the p185(c-erbB-2) immunoprecipitated with anti-p185(c-erbB-2) antibodies was exposed to adenosine triphosphate, enhanced self-phosphorylation occurred more frequently in specimens from the tumors carrying p185(c-erbB-2) overexpression. These findings demonstrated positive correlation between disease spread, p185(c-erbB-2) expression and autophosphorylation of p185(c-erbB-2) in human endometrial carcinoma. The prognostic value of these observations awaits continued study.