Lack of expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in human esophageal squamous cell carcinomas.

Fifty-one cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were immunohistochemically investigated with monoclonal c-erbB 2 oncoprotein antibody. No tumor showed plasma membrane immunostaining for c-erbB-2 protein. Occasionally, unspecific cytoplasmic staining was found in minor tumor cell populations. The present results show that c-erbB-2 oncoprotein is not overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas and does not play a central role in the tumorigenesis.