Korean J Gastroenterol.  2004 Sep;44(3):147-152.

Clinical Significance of HER-2/neu Expression in Colon Cancer

• Park DI
• Oh SJ
• Park SH
• Yun JW
• Kim HJ
• Cho YK
• Sung IK
• Sohn CI
• Jeon WK
• Kim BI
• Cho EY
• Kim EJ
• Chae SW
• Sohn JH
• Kim JJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The HER-2/neu protein is involved in normal cell proliferation and tissue growth because it is extensively homologous and related to epidermal growth factor receptor. As a prognostic marker, HER-2/neu is used to forecast the clinical course and poor outcome in breast cancer. As a predictive marker, HER-2/neu is used to predict the therapeutic response to adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy in breast cancer. In this study, we investigated the relationships between clinical and pathologic characteristics of tumor and prognosis according to the HER-2/neu expression in colon cancer. This study was conducted for the future introduction of Herceptin(r) therapy for colon cancer patients. METHODS: Overexpression of HER-2/neu was examined by semiquantitative standardized immunohistochemical staining kit in 88 patients with colon cancer. The patients underwent curative surgery at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital. RESULTS: Overexpression of HER-2/neu was detected in 11 (12.5%) of 88 patients. Tumors with positive HER-2/neu staining showed a tendency for higher rates of nodal metastasis and poor mean survival (1,646 +/- 269 vs 2,631 +/- 141 days) and 5-year survival (65.5% vs 78.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Tumors with positive HER-2/neu staining showed a tendency for higher rates for nodal metastasis and poor clinical survival rate.

Keyword

Colonic Neoplasms; HER-2/neu

MeSH Terms

Aged
Colonic Neoplasms/chemistry/mortality/*pathology/surgery
English Abstract
Female
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymphatic Metastasis
Male
Middle Aged
Prognosis
Receptor, erbB-2/*analysis
Tumor Markers, Biological/analysis