HER-2/neu and TOPIIa expression in gastric cancer reflect disease severity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastric cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers have not been established. Here we explored the clinical significance of two proteins, HER-2/neu and TOPIIa-associated with development and progression of various tumor types-in gastric cancer. We also analyzed the correlation between expression of these proteins and clinicopathological parameters of gastric tumors.

METHODOLOGY

Tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples were collected from 62 patients with gastric cancer and subjected to immunohistochemistry with anti-HER-2/neu and -TOPIIa antibodies.

RESULTS

HER-2/neu (21.0%) and TOPIIa (80.6%) were expressed more commonly in gastric cancer than in normal gastric tissue (9.7% and 60.3%, respectively; p<0.05). However, there was no correlation between HER-2/neu and TOPIIa expression in gastric tumors. Further analysis showed a correlation between HER-2/neu expression and lymph node metastasis, distant metastases and tumor stage (p<0.05); TOPIIa was correlated with infiltration depth, distant metastases and tumor stage (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

HER-2/neu and TOPIIa are over expressed in gastric tumors and may promote disease progression. These proteins may therefore be useful as prognostic markers in evaluation of patients with gastric cancer.