Expression of c-erb B-2 oncogene product in persistent gestational trophoblastic disease

Much debate exists on the initiation of chemotherapy for women at risk for persistent gestational trophoblastic disease. This is a result of a lack of early predictors for the development of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease after evacuation of a complete hydatidiform mole, because the only current reliable method of detection and diagnosis lies in persistent or rising postmolar beta-human chorionic gonadotropin values. We used immunocytochemical techniques to retrospectively study the expression of the c-erb B-2 oncogene product in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded trophoblastic tissues as a potential indicator of the development of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease.

In this retrospective study 56 trophoblastic tumors were examined by means of immunocytochemical techniques to stain for the oncogene product for evidence of c-erb B-2 expression. Our 56 cases included original tissue from 20 cases of complete mole that progressed to persistent gestational trophoblastic disease, seven cases of choriocarcinoma after term pregnancy or abortion, and 29 cases of hydatidiform mole representing postevacuation, spontaneously regressing disease (including one partial mole). We also studied 11 cases of first-trimester trophoblast and 15 cases of term placenta as additional controls.

Our results showed positive immunostaining for c-erb B-2 gene product in one case of persistent gestational trophoblastic disease, with negative staining in all other cases in the study groups and controls.

Analysis for the significance of c-erb B-2 expression in persistent gestational trophoblastic disease showed that this correlation between c-erb B-2 expression and persistent gestational trophoblastic disease is not significant, suggesting that future efforts should be directed at the involvement of different oncoproteins.