The prognostic value of HER-2/neu oncogene in cervical cancer

Background: Expression of the HER-2/neu oncogene has been suggested to confer added virulence or aggressive behavior in gynecologic malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of HER-2/neu expression in invasive cervical cancer and its impact on survival in women with cervical cancer. Design: Archival tissue from 150 patients with cervical carcinoma was evaluated immunohistochemically for HER-2/neu oncoprotein expression. Survival information was retrieved retrospectively from patients' medical records. Results: The HER-2/neu expression was observed in 34 out of 150 tumors (22%). The HER-2/neu positive tumors exhibited considerable heterogeneity in the distribution of immunoreactive tumor cells. Tumor grade and histology did not influence the pattern or intensity of HER-2/neu expression. There was no statistically significant difference in survival of patients with HER-2/neu positive and those with HER-2/neu negative tumors (P = 0.50). Tumor stage at diagnosis was the only covariate with prognostic significance in patient survival (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Expression of HER- 2/neu oncogene is a rare event in cervical cancer. Immunohistochemical detection of HER-2/neu expression is neither a predictor of survival of patients with cervical cancer nor does it identify subgroups of patients at higher risk for recurrence of disease.