title: Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 and topoisomerase II alpha expressions in rectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the present study were to investigate human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) and topoisomerase II alpha (T2a) expressions in rectal cancer (RC) and to evaluate their correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The status of HER2 and T2a in tumor specimens from 302 RC patients was retrospectively assessed using immunohistochemistry. Clinicopathological parameters were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HER2 overexpression (2+ or 3+) was found in only 31 patients (10.3%), whereas positive immunostaining for the T2a protein was detected in most patients (n=272, 90.1%). HER2 expression tended to positively correlate with T2a level (r=0.224; p<0.001). Relationships between HER2 expression and patients' age and gender, tumor size, differentiation, and TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and lymphovascular invasion were not found (p>0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified TNM stage III and lymphovascular invasion as independent risk factors for T2a overexpression (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As the contribution of HER2 appears minimal, it has low potential as a therapeutic target in RC. T2a may play an important role in cancer cell progression and invasion, and T2a inhibitors could be used in the treatment of RC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liming
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Deng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qinghua
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qifeng
authors.forename: Luo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haojie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000032:analysis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human