Does c-erbB-2 play a role in the first steps of lung carcinogenesis?

BACKGROUND The 1999 WHO/IASLC histological classification of preneoplastic bronchial lesions has been shown to be reproducible, but little is known about its biological significance. The EGFR expression rate increases from normal epithelium to carcinoma in situ (CIS) with a significant difference between mild versus severe dysplasia. C-erbB-2, another member of the erbB family, is overexpressed in lung carcinomas, suggesting that this mechanism may play a role in carcinogenesis. We evaluated the correspondence between the morphological changes of the bronchial epithelium and the c-erbB-2 expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Nine normal bronchial epithelia, 16 hyperplasia, 12 metaplasia, 12 mild dysplasia, 8 severe dysplasia, 11 CIS and 6 microinvasive tumours were evaluated. Immunostaining was performed using anti-c-erbB-2 antibodies (clone CBI ). RESULTS No immunostaining was found whatever the bronchial lesions evaluated. CONCLUSION C-erbB-2 does not seem to be involved in the first step of carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma. These findings suggest that there is no place for chemoprevention by anti-c-erbB-2 drugs such as trastuzumab in lung cancer.