HER-2/neu amplification is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer

Authors

Dong Il Park, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Jung Won Yun, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Jung Ho Park, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Suk Joong Oh, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Hong Joo Kim, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Yong Kyun Cho, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Chong Il Sohn, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Woo Kyu Jeon, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Byung Ik Kim, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Chang Hak Yoo, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Byung Ho Son, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Eun Yoon Cho, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Seoung Wan Chae, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Eo Jin Kim, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Jin Hee Sohn, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Seung Ho Ryu, SungKyunKwan University, School of Medicine
Antonia R. Sepulveda, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

8-1-2006

Journal

Digestive Diseases and Sciences

Volume

51

Issue

8

DOI

10.1007/s10620-005-9057-1

Keywords

Gastric neoplasms; HER-2/neu

Abstract

The HER-2/neu protein is intimately involved with normal cell proliferation and tissue growth and is extensively homologous and related to the epidermal growth factor receptor. HER-2/neu protein expression has been most intensively studied in the context of breast carcinoma, in which its amplification and overexpression correlate with the overall course of disease, and with a poor prognosis, and constitute a predictive factor of poor response to chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the expression of HER-2/neu and the clinicopathological characteristics of tumors, including survival. This study was performed with a view toward the future introduction of Herceptin therapy for gastric cancer patients. HER-2/neu overexpression and gene amplification was examined with semiquantitative standardized immunohistochemical staining, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 182 gastric cancer patients who underwent curative surgery at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. Twenty-nine (15.9%) of 182 patients expressed the HER-2/neu protein by immunohistochemistry. HER-2/neu gene amplification was detected in seven patients by CISH and FISH. Intestinal-type cancers exhibited higher rates of HER-2/neu amplification than did diffuse-type cancers (P < 0.05). Tumors with HER-2/neu amplification were associated with poor mean survival rates (922 vs 3243 days) and 5-year survival rates (21.4% vs 63.0%; P < 0.05). Age, TNM stage, and amplification of HER-2/neu were found to be independently related to survival by multivariate analysis. HER-2/neu amplification may constitute an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients, and patients exhibiting HER-2/neu amplification might constitute potential candidates for new adjuvant therapies which involve the use of humanized monoclonal antibodies. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006.

APA Citation

Park, D., Yun, J., Park, J., Oh, S., Kim, H., Cho, Y., Sohn, C., Jeon, W., Kim, B., Yoo, C., Son, B., Cho, E., Chae, S., Kim, E., Sohn, J., Ryu, S., & Sepulveda, A. (2006). HER-2/neu amplification is an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 51 (8). http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10620-005-9057-1