Frequency of Her2/Neu Protein Expression in Ovarian Epithelial Cancers.

OBJECTIVE

To detect the frequency of Her-2/neu protein expression in epithelial ovarian cancers by immunohistochemistry.

STUDY DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional study.

PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY

Department of Pathology, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, from July 2014 to May 2015.

METHODOLOGY

Fifty-six cases diagnosed as epithelial ovarian cancer on histopathology were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry was performed to observe the pattern of HER2/neu protein expression in these cases. Association with age was determined by Chi-square test with significance at p<0.05.

RESULTS

Out of these 56 cases, 38 (67.9%) were serous cystadenocarcinomas, 11 (19.6%) were endometrioid adenocarcinomas, 6 (10.7%) were mucinous cystadenocarcinomas and 1 (1.8%) was non-Brenner transitional cell carcinoma. The mean age of patients was 49.61 ±13.20 years with minimum and maximum ages of 21 years and 80 years, correspondingly. Twentyone (37.5%) out of 56 patients were found to overexpress Her-2/neu protein.

CONCLUSION

Her-2/neu protein overexpression was observed in 21 (37.5%) patients. No statistically significant association was seen between age and Her-2/neu protein overexpression.