title: A case series of patients with HER2-overexpressed primary metastatic gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) is associated with an aggressive metastatic phenotype in patients with breast cancer but its prognostic impact is not well-characterized in gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective series of three cases of HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this case series, we describe three patients presenting with widespread metastatic disease prior to development of symptoms from the primary tumor. Two patients presented with brain metastases, while one demonstrated lymphangitic spread to lungs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pooled analyses of outcomes among sub-populations of contemporary trials are needed to better understand the natural history and prognostic impact of HER2 over-expression in patients with gastroesophageal cancers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Sarah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Calkins
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Alan P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Venook
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A. katie.kelley@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Robin K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002166:Camptothecin; D000069287:Capecitabine; D016190:Carboplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000077146:Irinotecan; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000068878:Trastuzumab; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human
keywords: Esophagogastric adenocarcinoma; HER2 amplification; HER2 over-expression; central nervous system metastasis; esophageal adenocarcinoma; gastric adenocarcinoma; gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma