The level of C-erbB-2 in patients with esophageal and gastric cancers

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to reveal the prevalence of c-erbB-2 expression in patients with gastric and esophageal cancers in the Eastern Anatolia Region and their relationships with pathologic parameters. 
 Material and Method: A total of 50 patients, 25 esophageal cancer and 25 gastric cancer patients, who were diagnosed and operated in three clinics at Atatürk University, School of Medicine (Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Thoracic Surgery) between 2000-2007, were retrospectively included in the study. The parameters belonging to these cases, such as histologic type, differentiation degree, tumor invasion depth, and lymph node metastasis, were extracted from the pathology reports. We obtained the preparations from pathology laboratory archives and reexamined them. Those suitable for immunohistochemical stain were selected from the paraffin block archive and undergone to immunohistochemical process.
 Results: We detected c-erbB-2 positivity in 6 (24%) of 25 patients with esophageal cancer and 7 (%28) of 25 patients with gastric cancer. The relationships between c-erbB-2 expression scores and the selected parameters were evaluated using the Chi-square test. Ultimately, we found no significant relationships between c-erbB-2 positivity and differentiation degree (p=0.447), tumor invasion depth (p=0.067), and lymph node metastasis (p=0.461). Despite no statistical relationships, esophageal cancer cases with positive c-erbB-2 displayed noticeable features, such as lymph node involvement and well-differentiated tumors. In the cases with gastric cancer, there were no statistical relationships between c-erbB-2 positivity and the WHO classification (p=0.748), the Lauren classification (p=0.373), lymph node metastasis (p=0.629), tumor invasion depth (p=0.262), and differentiation degree (p=0.083). However, by the WHO classification, lymph node involvement and tubularity were noticeable features of all cases with c-erbB-2 positivity. 
 Conclusion: Larger and further studies are needed to more clearly observe the effect of C-erbB-2 expression on clinicopathological outcomes in gastric and esophageal cancers.