[Relationship between HER2/neu gene amplification and protein expression and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
There is a mounting evidence of the role of HER2 overexpression inpatients with gastric cancer, and it has been solidly correlated with poor outcomes and more aggressive diseases. This study was to investigate the relationship between the expression of HER2/neu and the clinical characteristics of advanced gastric carcinomas, including survival.


METHODS
The clinical data of 83 patients admitted in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Science, from 2006 to 2008 were reviewed. The HER2/neu status in 83 advanced gastric carcinomas was evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test using SPSS13.0 software.


RESULTS
The median age of the patients was 60 years and the male-to-female ratio was 2.95:1. HER2/neu overexpression (2+ and 3+) and amplification were found in 25 (30.1%) and 29 (34.9%) advanced gastric carcinomas, respectively. HER2/neu amplification/overexpression was associated with worse survival in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. The median survival of the patients without HER2/neu amplification was 12.6 months and that of those with HER2 amplification was 5.5 months.


CONCLUSIONS
HER2/neu status may be a clinical predictor of prognosis in advanced gastric cancer patients.
Song
Yan
Y
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
Huang
Jing
J
Wang
Jin-Wan
JW
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human