[Expression level of c-erbB-2 protein correlates with the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression level of c-erbB-2 gene in colorectal cancer and its correlation to prognosis.


METHODS
In 173 colorectal carcinoma patients, c-erbB-2 protein was examined immunohistochemically and patients' prognosis was evaluated by retrospective analysis combined with follow-up data.


RESULTS
The immunohistochemical staining of c-erbB-2 protein was found in the cytoplasm and membrane with a positive rate of 52% in tumor tissue. The 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rate of patients with negative c-erbB-2 expression was 98.7%, 92.4%, 87.1% and 84.1% respectively; that of the patients with weakly positive c-erbB-2 expression was 94.5%, 76.1%, 72.3% and 68.3%, respectively. In contrast, that of patients with strongly positive c-erbB-2 expression was 91.0%, 43.5%, 36.8% and 23.4%, respectively. The survival rates among the three groups of patients were statistically different. Multivariate survival analysis by Cox regression model showed that c-erbB-2 expression level was a risky prognostic factor for colorectal cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression level of c-erbB-2 protein is an independent prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma.
Zhou
Z
Z
Department of Abdominal Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510060, China.
Wan
D
D
Zhang
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases