Immunohistochemical expression of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

• Author Details:   
• Devika Kinkhede ^*
• Meena Pangarkar
• Radhika Praveen Pagey
• Prajakta Sathawane
• Shweta Ashok Deulkar
• Shraddha Rajan Mahindra
• Yogita Devi

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Background: Lip, oral cavity cancers are ranked as the sixteenth most common cancer worldwide according to the latest GLOBOCAN estimates (2022). The determination of expression of ERBB receptors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can help profile the patients, potentially devise newer treatment strategies and improve outcome for patients.

Aim and Objective: The aim was to study immunohistochemical expression of EGFR, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in HNSCC and association with clinical factors, prognostic factors and their co-expression.

Materials and Methods: 100 cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma were included in the study. Tumour representative blocks were selected for immunohistochemistry for EGFR, HER2, HER3 and HER4. IHC scoring was done using H-score. Results: In our study, 49% patients showed EGFR expression, 22% showed HER2 expression. HER2 expression showed association with lymph node involvement and extra nodal extension. 94% patients showed HER3 expression and 58% showed HER4 over expression. HER4 over expression showed correlation with sex of patient.

Conclusion: There is a need to conduct more such studies and clinical trials about expression of ERBB receptors in HNSCC as there are targeted drugs available against these receptors. Also, a reporting protocol needs to be established for interpreting immunohistochemical expression of these markers.

Keywords: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), Head and neck cancers (HNC), EGFR, HER2, HER3, HER4.