HER-2, EGFR, COX-2 expression status correlated to microvessel density and survival in resected non-small cell lung cancer

Acta Oncol. 2004;43(1):80-6. doi: 10.1080/02841860310017441.

Abstract

The incidence of lung cancer is increasing throughout the world and is the most common cause of cancer-related death. Early detection followed by surgery has a reasonable, curative potential, but 30-50% of patients experience relapses. The immunohistochemical expressions of HER-2, EGFR and COX-2 were investigated in 53 resected non-small cell lung carcinomas and correlated to microvessel density and clinical data. HER-2, EGFR and COX-2 overexpressions were demonstrated in 15%, 30% and 40% of the tumours, respectively. In adenocarcinomas, HER-2 and COX-2 overexpression were more common, whereas in squamous cell carcinomas, EGFR overexpression was more common. COX-2 expression correlated with HER-2 expression (p = 0.002), and demonstrated a trend towards a correlation with microvessel density (p = 0.10). None of the markers alone had any impact on survival. However, HER-2+/EGFR- tumours proved to have a poor prognosis. In conclusion, adjuvant treatment with HER-2 antagonists might be a future treatment option in resected non-small cell lung cancer patients, especially when HER-2 is overexpressed without a concomitant overexpression of EGFR.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Capillaries / physiopathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism*
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Probability
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / genetics
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / metabolism*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Isoenzymes
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Cyclooxygenase 2
  • PTGS2 protein, human
  • Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2