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Vol. 44. Issue 3.
Pages 122-126 (January 2008)
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Vol. 44. Issue 3.
Pages 122-126 (January 2008)
Original Articles
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Prognostic Value of ERBB2 Amplification and Protein Expression in Small Cell Lung Cancer
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María Cebollero-Presmanesa,
Corresponding author
mpresmanes@hotmail.com

Correspondence: Dr M. Cebollero-Presmanes Servicio de Anatomía Patológica Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón Dr. Esquerdo, 4628007 Madrid, Spain
, Nora Sánchez-Moraa,b, Ramón García-Gómezc, María Luisa Herranz Aladroa, Emilio Álvarez-Fernándeza
a Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
b Laboratorio Integrado de la Escuela de Medicina del Táchira (LABIEMET), Universidad de Los Andes, San Cristobal, Venezuela
c Servicio de Oncología. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. Madrid. Spain
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Objective

Our objective was to evaluate ERBB2 oncogene amplification using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and protein overexpression using immunohistochemical techniques, and to explore their possible prognostic value in a series of patients with small cell carcinoma.

Patients and methods

Included in the study were 99 patients with small cell tumors, classified in 2 broad groups: patients with limited or locally advanced disease and patients with disseminated disease. Material for study was obtained in 97% of the cases (96/99) by means of endoscopic biopsy and by tomography-guided needle biopsy in the remaining 3% (3/99). Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The 92 men (92.9%) and 7 women (7.1%) in the study had a mean (SD) age of 62.9 (10.4) years (range, 36–81 years); 39.4% (n=39) and 60.6% (n=60) of the subjects had limited and disseminated disease, respectively. ERBB2 protein overexpression was observed in 26.3% of the patients (n=26), 15.4% (n=4) of whom had limited disease and 84.6% (n=22) of whom had disseminated disease (P=.005). Although mean survival was slightly longer for patients who were negative for ERBB2 protein overexpression, the difference was not statistically significant. FISH identified gene amplification in 6.3% (1 in16) of the studied cases (ratio, 2.3).

Conclusions

The protein product of the ERBB2 oncogene is overexpressed in 33.3% of small cell lung carcinomas and is associated with the presence of disseminated disease. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the possible benefits of specific treatment.

Key words:
SSmall cell carcinoma of the lung
ERBB2 oncogene
Prognosis
Objetivo

El propósito de nuestro estudio ha sido evaluar la sobreexpresión proteica de c-erbB-2 mediante técnicas de inmunohistoquímica y la amplificación del oncogén mediante hibridación in situ fluorescente, en una serie de carcinomas microcíticos, correlacionándola con las posibles implicaciones pronósticas.

Pacientes y métodos

Se incluyó a 99 pacientes con tumores microcíticos clasificados en 2 grandes grupos: enfermedad limitada o localmente avanzada y enfermedad diseminada. El material para estudio se obtuvo mediante biopsia endoscópica en el 97% de los casos (96/99) o mediante punción guiada por tomografía computarizada en el 3% restante (3/99). La supervivencia se analizó con el método de Kaplan-Meier.

Resultados

La media de edad ± desviación estándar de los pacientes fue de 62,9 ± 10,4 años (rango: 36–81). El 92,9% (n = 92) eran varones y el 7,1% mujeres (n = 7). Un 39,4% (n = 39) presentaba enfermedad limitada y el 60,6% (n = 60) enfermedad diseminada. La sobreexpresión proteica de c-erbB-2 se observó en el 26,3% de los casos (n = 26), de los cuales un 15,4% (n = 4) presentaba enfermedad limitada y el 84,6% restante (n = 22) enfermedad diseminada (p = 0,005). La media de supervivencia fue ligeramente mayor para los pacientes con c-erbB-2 negativo que en aquéllos con c-erbB-2 positivo, pero esta diferencia no fue estadísticamente significativa. La técnica de hibridación in situ fluorescente mostró amplificación génica en el 6,3% (1/16) de los casos estudiados, con un índice de 2,3.

Conclusiones

El producto proteico del oncogén c-erbB-2 se sobreexpresa en un 33,3% de los carcinomas microcíticos pulmonares y se asocia a la presencia de enfermedad diseminada. Son necesarios nuevos estudios para evaluar el posible beneficio del tratamiento específico.

Palabras clave:
Carcinoma microcítico de pulmón
c-erbB-2
Pronóstico
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