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Prognostic significance of c-erbB2 overexpression in patients with metastatic gastric cancer

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Abstract

Background

Overexpression of the gene c-erbB2, which encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase, has been associated with prognosis and response to therapy in several solid tumors. This study was designed to test whether c-erb-B2 overexpression can be related to prognosis of patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2010, 46 cases of metastatic gastric cancer were evaluated immunohistochemically for c-erb-B2 overexpression. Overall survival (OS) and time-to-progression (TTP) served as the main outcome measures.

Results

c-erbB2 was overexpressed in 19 (41.3 %) cases and 8 patients (17.4 %) had a c-erbB2 score of 3+ (a strong complete membrane staining observed in >10 % of the tumor cells). c-erbB2 expression was not associated with the clinicohistological characteristics of the study participants. The mean OS was 11.48 ± 1.03 months, whereas the mean TTP was 8.28 ± 0.8 months. Compared with patients with a score of 2+ or less (n = 38), those with a c-erbB2 score of 3+ (n = 8) had both a significantly lower OS (15.55 ± 1.63 vs. 8.22 ± 0.88 months, respectively, p < 0.05) and TTP (10.72 ± 1.81 vs. 6.11 ± 0.61 months, respectively, p < 0.05). After allowance for potential confounders, Cox regression analysis identified a c-erbB2 score of 3+ as an independent predictor of both OS (hazard ratio = 1.9; 95 % confidence interval = 1.1−3.7, p < 0.05) and TTP (hazard ratio = 1.8; 95 % confidence interval = 1.1−4.1, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that c-erbB-2 overexpression may have a prognostic significance in patients with metastatic gastric cancer.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest relating to the publication of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Uludag University Medical School, Bursa, 16059, Turkey

    Muharrem Bayrak, Omer Fatih Olmez, Ender Kurt, Erdem Cubukcu, Turkkan Evrensel, Ozkan Kanat & Osman Manavoglu

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  1. Muharrem Bayrak
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  2. Omer Fatih Olmez
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  3. Ender Kurt
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  4. Erdem Cubukcu
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  7. Osman Manavoglu
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Correspondence to Omer Fatih Olmez.

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Bayrak, M., Olmez, O.F., Kurt, E. et al. Prognostic significance of c-erbB2 overexpression in patients with metastatic gastric cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 15, 307–312 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0921-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-012-0921-0

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