Relationship between CT characteristics and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression in gastric cancers

Abstract

Retrospectively analyzing the CT features and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-expression status of patients with pathologically proven gastric cancers to investigate the potential correlation between them. 433 patients with gastric cancers confirmed by pathology underwent CT scan. According to HER2-expression status, all patients were divided into two groups (HER2- negative [n = 300] and positive [n = 133]). CT features of primary gastric were reviewed and compared in both groups. CT findings were compared using Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, or the Student’s t test. Then binary logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the most significant differential CT features. Compared with HER2-negative gastric cancers, HER2-positive gastric cancers showed lower N stages (63.16% vs. 28.67%; p < 0.001), poorly defined margins (60.15% vs. 49.33%, p = 0.047), and hyperattenuation on portal phase (70.68% vs. 36.33%; p < 0.001). HER2-negative cancers (mean thickness, 1.72 cm) were slightly thicker than HER2-positive cancers (mean thickness, 1.51 cm), hepatic metastases and peritoneal seeding were slightly more frequently found in HER2-positive cancers (4.51% vs. 2%; 4.51% vs. 2.33%), but the difference was not statistically significant. By using binary regression analysis, hyperattenuation on portal phase (odds ratio [OR], 4.22; p < 0.001) and low risk of lymph node metastasis (OR, 0.25; p < 0.001) were significant independent factors that predict HER2-positive cancers. Compared to HER2-negative cancers, HER2-positive gastric cancers show poorly defined margins, less-advanced N stage, and hyperattenuation on the portal phase.