Expression of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 protooncogene proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a pilot study.

Background: To examine the occurrence of ErbB-3 and ErbB- 4 in oral squamous cell carcinoma, as well as investigate statistical correlations between the expression of these protooncogene proteins and clinical and pathological tumor characteristics.

Study Design: Nineteen oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) were analyzed using immunohistochemistry.

Results: Positive immunostaining for ErbB-3 was found in 13/19 (68%) cases and for ErbB-4 in 10/19 (52%). The intensity of immunostaining for ErbB-3 positive cases was low in 8 (42.1%) and high in 5 (26.3%) cases, and for ErbB-4 ones was low in 6 (31.6%) and high in 4 (21%) of the 19 cases. ErbB-4 overexpression and TNM stage showed a significant correlation (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.467; P=0.04). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the overexpression of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 had no an influence on survival (P>0.05), but TNM stage was inversely related to survival (P=0.04). There was a significant association between the expression of ErbB-3 and ErbB-4 (chi2=6.193, P=0.037).

Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that c-erbB-4 may contribute to tumor growth and progression.