Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Journal (Jan 2022)
Her2neu Expression of Gastric and Lower Esophageal Carcinoma and its Correlation with Clinicopathological Findings in Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India
Abstract
Background: Gastric carcinomas are the fifth most common cancer worldwide and cause the second most common cancer-related deaths. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/Neu)(c-erbB2) protein overexpression in gastric cancer has been correlated to poor outcomes and a more aggressive disease. Targeted therapy against HER-2/Neu has attracted much attention recently. Comprehensive data regarding Her2neu expression in gastric carcinoma in Southeast Asia shows highly variable results and often lacks standardization. Aim/Objective: In this study, we study the expression of HER-2/Neu marker in lower esophageal and gastric carcinoma and compare it with various clinicopathological parameters and are known to have prognostic significance. Methods: One hundred and fifty cases of gastric/gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (intestinal type) were included in the study over 2 years, and immunohistochemistry was done to evaluate Her2neu expression. Scoring was done according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guideline, and the finding was correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: The age of patients ranged from 41 years to 80 years. Gastric tumors were more common in the age group 61–70 years with mean age of 65.5 years. Gastric tumors are more common in males than females. (M:F = 3.16:1) Most common type of specimen received was partial gastrectomy (38%). Anorexia (46%) and pain abdomen (46%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Gastric tumors were common in tubular subtypes (76%) followed by mucinous subtypes (16%). Most common histopathological grading was moderately differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma (64%). Most gastric tumors were located at antropyloric area of the stomach (42%). The highest frequency of cases presented at an tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) stage that is pT2N2Mx (32.3%). Her2neu expression was found to be score 0 in most (62%) cases, only 10% of cancers were positive (3+), 14% were equivocal (2+), and another 14% were 1+ (negative). When we correlated clinicopathological parameters such as age,sex,tumour site,gross appearance,size,depth of invasion,TNM stage,Lymphovascular invasion,perineural invasion etc. with HEr2neu expression; no statistically significant correlation was found. Conclusion: Overexpression of HER-2/Neu in gastric carcinoma can help to identify patients with reduced survival and to identify eligible candidates for targeted therapy. A larger sample size and follow-up for a longer period might shed more light on the role of the above markers in gastric carcinoma.
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