Cox-2, EGFR, and ERBB-2 Expression in Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Cervical Cancer Using an Automated Imaging System

We hypothesized that the activation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and ErbB-2 signaling is required for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions to progress to cervical cancer. A retrospective analysis was performed in 179 patients with Stage I squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 233 patients with CIN (112 CIN I, 47 CIN II, and 74 CIN III). COX-2, EGFR, and ErbB-2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using the ACIS III automated imaging system. the mean expression of COX-2, EGFR, and ErbB-2 was compared between the various stages of CIN and SCC. COX-2 mean expression was predominantly cytoplasmic, increasing significantly from CIN I to CIN II, CIN III, and SCC (P < 0.001). EGFR mean expression also rose significantly during tumor progression from CIN I to SCC (P=0.001). CIN I samples were negative for ErbB-2 expression. CIN II, CIN III, and SCC were considered positive for ErbB-2 expression in 2.2%, 14%, and 16.2% of cases, respectively. There was also a statistically significant correlation between increase of ErbB-2 positivity from CIN to SCC. We conclude that COX-2, EGFR, and ErbB-2 expression increase significantly during the progression of CIN to cancer.AC Camargo Canc Hosp, Dept Gynecol Oncol, São Paulo, BrazilAC Camargo Canc Hosp, Dept Pathol, São Paulo, BrazilBrazilian Inst Canc Control, Dept Gynecol Oncol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Discipline Gynecol Oncol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Discipline Gynecol Oncol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc