Relationship of C-erbB-2 protein expression and gene amplification to invasion and metastasis in human gastric cancer

Cancer. 1993 Oct 1;72(7):2083-8. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19931001)72:7<2083::aid-cncr2820720705>3.0.co;2-1.

Abstract

Background: Amplification and/or overexpression of the C-erbB-2 gene has been demonstrated in breast and gastric cancer and is thought to be involved in the process of gastric cancer metastasis.

Methods: The expression of C-erbB-2 protein in human gastric cancer was examined by immunohistochemistry and amplification of the C-erbB-2 gene by Southern blot hybridization.

Results: C-erbB-2 protein was located on the cell membrane of cancer cells in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Fourteen percent of specimens were positive for C-erbB-2, and no positive reaction was evident in noncancerous tissue. The presence of C-erbB-2 in gastric cancer was correlated with the depth of invasion, histologic type, growth pattern, and presence of liver metastasis. C-erbB-2 was found more often in advanced cancers (P < 0.05), papillary adenocarcinoma (P < 0.01), nonscirrhous cancer (P < 0.05), and cancers with liver metastasis (P < 0.01). The incidence of C-erbB-2 positivity in lymph nodes with metastasis was higher than in primary sites (P < 0.01) and was significantly higher in differentiated adenocarcinoma (P < 0.01). Patients with C-erbB-2-positive tumors had poorer survival rates those with C-erbB-2-negative tumors in the early stages (P < 0.001), but not in the advanced stages. Amplification of the C-erbB-2 gene was detected at the primary site and in metastatic nodes in the same case, and expression of the protein was also evident.

Conclusions: The expression and/or gene amplification of C-erbB-2 is related to invasion and nodal involvement in differentiated adenocarcinoma of the human stomach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous / pathology
  • Blotting, Southern
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Female
  • Gene Amplification*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Metastasis*
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • ErbB Receptors