Overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein in gastric cancer. Its correlation with long-term survival of patients.
BACKGROUND
Overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein in breast cancer has been reported to be associated with poor prognosis. However, clinical significance of c-erbB-2 protein overexpression has not been demonstrated clearly in gastric cancer.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical reactivity to c-erbB-2 protein was examined in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections from patients with gastric cancer.


RESULTS
First, primary stomach cancers in 106 patients were examined. Among 58 cases of papillary or well- to moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma, staining of c-erbB-2 protein was positive on the plasma membrane of cancer cells in 8 cases (14%). Conversely, among 47 cases of poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or signet ring cell carcinoma, positive staining of c-erbB-2 protein was detected in one case only (2%), where the histopathologic type was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with a cohesive structure. Among tubular adenocarcinomas, no significant association was shown between overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein and the depth of tumor invasion, extent of lymph node metastasis, or tumor location. To investigate the correlation between the staining of c-erbB-2 protein and prognosis in gastric cancer, an additional 108 cases of papillary or well- to moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma invasive as far as the muscularis propria were examined immunohistochemically for expression of c-erbB-2 protein. Twelve cases (11%) showed positive staining on the plasma membrane, and their survival curve showed a significantly poorer prognosis (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that overexpression of c-erbB-2 protein occurs selectively in cohesive gastric cancer, and it can be considered an important prognostic indicator.
Uchino
S
S
Pathology Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
Tsuda
H
H
Maruyama
K
K
Kinoshita
T
T
Sasako
M
M
Saito
T
T
Kobayashi
M
M
Hirohashi
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases