[Relationship between c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression and prognosis in salivary gland malignant pleomorphic adenoma]

A monoclonal antibody AB-3 has been used immunohistochemically in a retrospective study of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues of the salivary gland malignant pleomorphic adenomas (MPA). Positive staining was found in 25/60 (41.67%) of MPA. c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression of the postoperative recurrent MPA group was higher than that of non-recurrent MPA group (P < 0.05). The postoperative 5-year survival rate of MPA with c-erbB-2 expression was considerably lower than that of without expression (P < 0.01). This observation indicates that c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression may be an useful prognostic indicator in MPA.