c-erbB-2 gene amplification in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Cancer Invest. 2000;18(1):6-10. doi: 10.3109/07357900009023056.

Abstract

Amplification of the c-erbB-2 gene has been associated with poor prognosis in different types of cancer. However, there are no data on the c-erbB-2 expression levels in nasopharyngeal cancer. In this study, amplification of the gene has been investigated in the tumor tissue of patients with nasopharyngeal cancer by competitive polymerase chain reaction c-erbB-2 amplification was observed in 43.3% of the patients. The increase in the gene copy number correlated with the T stage. No correlation was found with lymph node involvement, histologic grade, differentiation, presence of metastases, or age and sex. We conclude that c-erbB-2 amplification may contribute to the pathogenesis of nasopharyngeal cancer. Our report is the first study investigating the expression of the c-erbB-2 gene in nasopharyngeal cancer at the DNA level.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification*
  • Genes, erbB-2*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*

Substances

  • Receptor, ErbB-2