Abstract
Purpose: The relationship was studied between c-erbB-2 expression and outcome in 107 carcinomas of the cervix treated with radical radiotherapy. Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections were stained by immunohistochemistry for over-expression of the c-erbB-2 protein. A retrospective study of treatment outcome was made on patients with a median follow-up of 55 months. Results: Patients with c-erbB-2-positive tumours had a significantly worse overall survival rate than those with c-erbB-2-negative tumours (P=0.019). Metastasis-free survival (i.e. recurrence outside the radiotherapy field) was also significantly worse (P<0.001) but there were no differences in local control (i.e. recurrence within the radiotherapy field) rates (P=0.24). Bivariate log-rank analyses showed that the prognostic value of c-erbB-2 expression for metastasis-free survival was independent of disease stage, histological grade, patient age, tumour size and tumour radiosensitivity. A combination of two biological parameters yielded a high discrimination between outcome groups. Women with radiosensitive and c-erbB-2-negative tumours had a 5-year metastasis-free survival level of 70% compared to 33% for women with radioresistant, c-erbB-2-positive tumours. Conclusions: c-erbB-2 expression is an important prognostic factor for determining tumour recurrence outside the treatment field in cervix carcinomas treated with radiotherapy.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 6 July 1998 / Accepted: 17 November 1998
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nishioka, T., West, C., Gupta, N. et al. Prognostic significance of c-erb B-2 protein expression in carcinoma of the cervix treated with radiotherapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 125, 96–100 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004320050248
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004320050248