Abstract
Objectives To investigate the usefulness of the overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-2) oncoprotein in patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer as a marker for the time to recurrence and outcome after endocrine therapy. Methods We studied 50 patients who had been diagnosed with bone metastatic prostate cancer. HER-2 overexpression in the prostatic tissue by biopsy was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using the Hercep test. The results were scored into four levels by two pathologists; scores greater than 1+ were considered positive. Results The HER-2 staining score was 0, 1+, 2+, 3+, and indeterminate in 28, 4, 11, 6, and 1 case, respectively. HER-2 was overexpressed (greater than 1+) in 21 patients (42%). The cause-specific survival and nonrecurrence rates were significantly lower in the HER-2-positive group than in the negative group ( P = 0.0084 and P = 0.0485, respectively). Furthermore, the cause-specific survival rate after recurrence was significantly greater in the HER-2-negative group than in the positive group ( P = 0.0247). Conclusions We consider that HER-2 overexpression, as measured by immunohistochemistry, may be useful as a marker of an unfavorable prognosis by predicting the interval until relapse and outcome after endocrine therapy in patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer.
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