Significance of HER-2/neu expression in ovarian epithelial tumours.

To investigate expression of Her-2/neu (c-erbB-2) and its significance in ovarian epithelial tumors.106 specimens and clinical history of ovarian epithelial tumors were collected including 54 cases of malignant, 33 cases of borderline and 19 benign cases. There were 19 cases of stages I and II and 35 cases of stages III and IV in ovarian carcinoma and all borderline malignant cases were stage I according to FIGO's standard. Immunohistochemical staining for Her-2/neu was performed by LSAB method.The positives rates of Her-2/neu of benign, borderline and malignant tumors were 47.4% (9/19), 84.8% (28/33,), and 85.2% (46/54), respectively. Both borderline and malignant cases were found to have higher expression of Her-2/neu than those of benign cases (P < 0.02 and P < 0.01) respectively. Overexpression of Her-2/neu showed in 14/54 (25.9%) of malignant cases, 3/33 (9.1%) of borderline, and none of benign cases. Overexpression of Her-2/neu in malignant tumors cases with metastasis was higher than those without metastasis (P < 0.001).Overexpression of Her-2/neu is associated with biological aggressiveness of ovarian cancer.