HER-2/neu and CD117 (C-kit) overexpression in hepatocellular and pancreatic carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocellular carcinoma has an overall 5-year survival of less than 5%. Similarly, pancreatic cancer has a mortality: incidence ratio of 0.99. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HER-2/neu and c-kit (CD117) overexpression and to identify a possible predictive role in patients with these two malignancies.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study on archival specimens of subjects with hepatocellular and pancreatic carcinoma. HER-2/neu and CD117 overexpression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Thirty-three patients with pancreatic carcinoma and 25 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were identified. The mean age was 71.7 years for patients with pancreatic carcinoma and 66 years for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Two patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and none with pancreatic cancer overexpressed HER-2/neu, while 2 patients with pancreatic carcinoma and 1 patient with hepatocellular carcinoma overexpressed CD117.


CONCLUSIONS
HER-2/neu and CD117 are not significantly overexpressed in either cancer. There appears to be no role for the use of trastuzumab in either malignancy. Similarly, while there appears to be no role for tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, further larger studies are necessary in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Potti
Anil
A
Department of Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, ND 58102, USA. apotti@medicine.nodak.edu
Ganti
Apar Kishor
AK
Tendulkar
Ketki
K
Chitajallu
Sidharth
S
Sholes
Kaley
K
Koch
Michael
M
Kargas
Steven
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases