Evaluation of the circulating fraction of the HER-2/neu oncogene in patients with cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate circulating HER-2/neu in cervical cancer patients prior to and following treatment.

METHODS

Controls, and patients with either cervical dysplasia or cancer taken from an active gynecologic oncology service were evaluated for the expression of HER-2/neu in serum by ELISA before and following surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or combinations thereof. The resulant data was then evaluated for significance by either ANOVA or non-parametric testing.

RESULTS

Mean differences were noted for patients with cervical cancer compared to controls. Patients with a good response to the chemotherapy indicated an increase in the serum oncogene, while those not responding either had no marked change or decreased the level of serum HER-2/neu.

CONCLUSIONS

As serum HER-2/neu is a membrane bound portion of the intact molecule, these results suggest that due to the induction of cell death and breakdown, the liberation of this fraction (increased levels in the serum), is a viable indicator of response to treatment in some patients. A more detailed examination of this possibility along with expanded correlation with tissue expression is required.