Immunohistochemical analysis of epidermal growth factor recepter (EGFR-R) and c-erb B2 and correlation with prognostic variables in endometrial carcinomas.

In thi s study the immunohi stochemical express ions of epidermal growth fac tor receptor (EGF-R) and erbB-2 in endometri al carcinomas at different stages of disease progression were evaluated and correlated with clinicopatholgical prognostic vari ab l es. Our res ults indicate that EGF-R and erbB-2 molecules are ex pressed in norma! endometrium as well as in the majority of the carcinomas evaluated (83% and 92% respecti vely). The intensity of the imrnunostaining vari ed greatl y (l+ to 3+) in the different tumors. Within these tumors we focused on those characteri zed by high Ievels of expression (i.e. overexpression). Expression and overexpression of EGF-R has been associated with poorl y diffe re ntiated tumors and with a 3.3 times higher risk of a more rapid disease re lapse. Overexpression of the erbB-2 oncoprotein was significati vely COITelated with depth of myometri al in vas ion (MO-Ml vs M2-M3 p=0.05), pathological stage (stage I vs II-IV p=0.02) and grade of tumor differenti ation (G l vs G2-G3 p=O.OO l). In particular, c-erbB-2 overexpression was ab le to discriminate between the different subsets of stage I carci nomas. None of the IA tum ors o verex pressed the oncoprote in , as compared to IB and IC (41% and 100% respecti vely, p=0.04). This fi nding highlights a role for erbB-2 protein as a prognos tic parameter in s tage I e ndome tri al carcinoma patients.