Abstract
There are scanty data on the occurrence of gastric tumours overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in Africa. To assess HER2 protein overexpression in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GGEAC) samples from a single centre in Zambia. This was a cross-sectional study of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks with GGEAC. Prepared slides were first stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin and then evaluated for HER2 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry. A total of 57 gastric tissues were stained and evaluated for HER2 overexpression. Thirteen (23%) showed overexpression, 41/57 (72%) had negative and 3/57 (5%) had equivocal staining. The equivocal cases were excluded from the final analysis. Of the remaining 54 tissues, 28 (52%) were from females, and 26 (48%) were from males. The mean age was 59 years (SD 15 years). HER2 overexpression was highest in moderately differentiated tumours (p=0.0005). Intestinal type tumours had a higher occurrenc of HER2 overexpression than diffuse or mixed sub-types (p=0.0087). HER2 overexpression was not associated with age (p=0.27), sex (p=1.00) or anatomical location (p=1.00). The occurrence of GGEAC HER2 overexpression in Zambian patients is similar to proportions reported elsewhere, and it is associated with moderately differentiated tumours of the intestinal type.
Highlights
Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide
The occurrence of gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GGEAC) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression in Zambian patients is similar to proportions reported elsewhere, and it is associated with moderately differentiated tumours of the intestinal type
This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of HER2 overexpression in patients with GGEAC presenting to the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia
Summary
Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. There were over one million gastric cancer cases in 2018, with an estimated 783 000 deaths. 1 The estimated age-standardised incidence rate in Africa is between 2.6 and 5.4 per 100 000. 2 In Zambia, gastric cancer is the tenth most common cancer, with an estimated age-standardised incidence of 2.9 per 100 000 and 3.4 per 100 000 in women and men respectively. 2The most common type of gastric cancer is adenocarcinoma, 3 which can either be located within the stomach or at the gastroesophageal junction referred to as gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinomas (GGEAC). 2 In Zambia, gastric cancer is the tenth most common cancer, with an estimated age-standardised incidence of 2.9 per 100 000 and 3.4 per 100 000 in women and men respectively. GGEAC sub-types can be diffuse, intestinal or mixed Lauren classification). We assessed HER2 protein overexpression in patients with GGEAC. There are scanty data on the occurrence of gastric tumours overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in Africa. Objective: To assess HER2 protein overexpression in gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (GGEAC) samples from a single centre in Zambia. Conclusion: The occurrence of GGEAC HER2 overexpression in Zambian patients is similar to proportions reported elsewhere, and it is associated with moderately differentiated tumours of the intestinal type.
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