HER-2 Expression and Response to Radiotherapy in Patients with Advanced Cervical Cancer.

Glauco Baiocchi, M.D., Ph.D., Maria Dirlei Begnami, M.D., Ph.D., Michael Jenwei Chen, M.D., Elza Mieko Fukazawa, M.D., Ph.D., Levon Badiglian-Filho, M.D., Ph.D., Antonio Cassio Assis Pellizzon, M.D., Ph.D., Fernando Augusto Soares, M.D., Ph.D., and Ademar Lopes, M.D., Ph.D. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate HER-2 expression as a predictor of the response to radiotherapy and its value as a prognostic marker. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis was performed in a series of 34 individuals with advanced stage cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy. HER-2 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry in biopsies from all patients prior to radiotherapy and in 14 patients with residual tumors after radiotherapy. The presence of gene amplification was also examined. RESULTS: Eighteen (53%) patients had residual disease after radical hysterectomy. HER-2 was expressed in 26.5% of cases. Gene amplification by FISH was detected in 2.9% of cases. HER-2 expression was associated with a higher risk of residual disease after radiotherapy (p= 0.019). HER-2 expression did not correlate with the risk of recurrence or death. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HER-2 expression is low in cervical cancer, and although HER-2 can predict the response to radiotherapy, it does not correlate with poor outcomes.