Expression of human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 in advanced lung adenocarcinoma with epithelial growth factor receptor mutation and its significance

Abstract

Objective To detect the expression of human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2)in advanced lung adenocarcinoma with epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, and to explore the potential of HER-2 as a therapeutic target for drug resistance in patients with EGFR mutations. Methods HER-2 is commonly expressed in the advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations, mainly in the cell membrane. Results The overexpression rate of HER-2 protein in tissues of advanced lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations was 33.3% (28/84). The overexpression rate of HER-2 protein in patients > 50 years of age was 40.3% (27/67), which was significantly higher than that of patients ≤50 years of age [5.9% (1/17)], the difference was statistically significant (χ2= 7.227, P= 0.007). The overexpression rate of HER-2 protein in patients with high pathological differentiation [44.4% (8/18)] was higher than that in patients with poor pathological differentiation [30.3% (20/66)], but the difference was not statistically significant (χ2= 1.273, P= 0.259). The overexpression of HER-2 protein in patients with EGFR 21 exon mutation [40.5% (17/42)] was significantly higher than that of EGFR19 exon mutation [25.0% (10/40)], but the difference was not statistical significance (χ2= 2.222, P= 0.136). Conclusions The overexpression rate of HER-2 protein in advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients with EGFR mutation is high, which is related to the age and tumor differentiation. HER-2 is expected to be a potential therapeutic target for drug resistance patients with EGFR mutations. Key words: Lung neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma; Receptor, epithelial growth factor; Mutation; Immunohistochemistry; Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2