Prognostic significance of the c-erbB-2 oncogene product in childhood medulloblastoma

Br J Cancer. 1995 Mar;71(3):473-7. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1995.96.

Abstract

The expression and prognostic significance of the c-erbB-2 oncogene product was studied in 55 cases of childhood medulloblastoma. Forty-six of the 55 tumours (83.6%) expressed the c-erbB-2 product. The percentage of tumour cells expressing the c-erbB-2 product proved to be a significant indicator of patient outcome when analysed as both a categorical and a continuous variable. As a categorical variable, patients with more than 50% positive tumour cells had a significantly worse survival, with only 10% alive at 10 years vs 48% for those with less than 50% positive tumour cells (log rank P = 0.0049). To demonstrate that this observed prognostic significance was both independent and not a result of 'data-driven' categorisation, it was also entered into the Cox model as a continuous variable. Prognostic significance was retained in P = 0.038.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / chemistry*
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / genetics
  • Cerebellar Neoplasms / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17
  • Cytoplasm / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Medulloblastoma / chemistry*
  • Medulloblastoma / genetics
  • Medulloblastoma / pathology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / analysis*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics

Substances

  • Receptor, ErbB-2