The expression of c‐erbB‐2 (HER‐2/neu) oncogene in invasive ovarian malignancies

The expression of c‐erbB‐2 oncogene has been studied in 74 formalin fixed paraffin embedded invasive epithelial ovarian malignancies using a monoclonal c‐erbB‐2 protein antibody. Only four (5.4%) tumors showed membrane immunostaining. FIGO stage, size of residual disease after primary surgery, histologic type and tumor grade, were identified by the log rank test as prognostic factors for survival. No difference in survival was observed between those with and without membrane staining (24 months probability of survival: 50% and 55.4% respectively). Our results did not show any adverse prognostic effect of c‐erbB‐2 protein expression in our patients.