OVER-EXPRESSION OF HER-2/neu IN BORDERLINE AND MALIGNANT EPITHELIAL OVARIAN TUMORS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of HER-2/neu over expression in borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors in correlation
with known prognostic factors such as histologic type, grade of tumors and omental metastasis as well as age of patients. Design: This
retrospective study was conducted on formalin fixed paraffin embedded archival tissue of the ovarian tumors. Place: Pathology department,
Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center, Karachi. Period: From January 2001 to July 2001. Material &
Methods: Sections of the 50 ovarian tumors were analyzed by latest recommended immunohistochemical techniques. Polyclonal primary
antibody and LAB-SA immunodetection system was used to determine the HER-2/neu over expression. Results: HER-2/neu was found
in 33.3% of borderline tumors & 36.4% of malignant tumors. No significant association was found between HER-2/neu over-expression and
histologic types, grade of tumor omental metastasis or age of patients. Conclusion: Like many previous studies, we confirm that
approximately one third of ovarian carcinomas reveal HER-2/neu over-expression. Therefore, specific therapeutic targeting of these tumors
may be accomplished with Trastuzumab (Herceptin). Further prospective studies on HER-2/neu over-expression in association with
therapeutic trial of Herceptin are suggested.