The expression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 in Iranian patients with gastric carcinoma.

To assess the significance of epidermal growth factor receptor family members, the overexpression of c-erbB-1 and c-erbB-2 was retrospectively investigated in 146 southern Iranian gastric cancer patients. Indirect immunostaining was used to evaluate the expression of these two receptors in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples. c-ErbB-1 expression was observed in 47 (32.2%) and c-erbB-2 expression was observed in 24 (16.4%) of tumors. Significant positive correlations were observed between c-erbB-1 expression and tumor size, local invasion, lymph node involvement and tumor stage. There was also a negative correlation between c-erbB-2 expression and tumor stage. These results may suggest the contribution of c-erbB-1 molecule in progression of gastric carcinomas in southern Iranian patients. Moreover, the relatively high percentage of c-erbB-2 positive tumors may provide a useful target for the immunotherapy of these cancers.