title: HER2/neu over-expression predicts poor outcome in early gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu) is involved in the pathogenesis of several types of cancer, including gastric cancer. However, there remains a paucity of data regarding the prognostic relevance of HER2/neu in early gastric cancer without lymph node metastasis (pN0 EGC). The aim of our study was to analyze whether the over-expression of HER2/neu significantly predicts poor outcomes of pN0 EGC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven patients who underwent operative resection for pN0 EGC was enrolled. The HER2/neu status was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HER2/neu-positive rate was 16.4%. HER2/neu over-expression showed a significant correlation with histological type (P ≤ 0.001), tumor location (P=0.022) and Lauren grade (P=0.012). Multivariate analysis showed HER2/neu serves as a good prognostic marker to predict the risk of poor outcome for pN0 EGC. (HR=1.384, 95.0% CI: 1.142-1.897 P=0.005) CONCLUSION: Considering HER2/neu over-expression significantly predicts poor outcome in pN0 EGC, accurate HER2/neu assessment would be done before endoscopic therapy. For HER2/neu-positive patients, radical surgery should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Yongjia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Chunna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China. Electronic address: drfuweihua@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Weihua
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human