J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc.  2006 Sep;6(3):181-188.

Expression of Heregulin and ErbB Family Proteins in Gastric Adenocarcinomas: Correlation with Clinopathologic Prognostic Factors

• Yoo CH
• Lee JH
• Choi JS

Abstract

PURPOSE: Heregulin is a natural ligand for erbB3 and erbB4. However, very little is known about their roles in the gastric cancer. This retrospective study was performed to evaluate the frequencies of heregulin and erbB family protein expression and to compare their expressions with clinicopathologic parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Immunohistochemical expressions of heregulin and erbB family proteins were examined with tissue micro-array slides. A total of 251 gastric adenocarcinomas were classified as early cancers and advanced cancers and as having and not having lymph node metastases.
RESULTS
The positive rates of the heregulin, erbB1, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 protein stainings were 64%, 68%, 6%, 88%, and 76%, respectively. Intestinal type gastric adenocarcinomas showed higher expression of heregulin, erbB2, erbB3, and erbB4 proteins. Heregulin and erbB4 proteins showed lower expressions in advanced gastric carcinomas. However, erbB2 protein showed higher expression in advanced gastric carcinomas. The protein expressions of heregulin and erbB family proteins showed no relationship with survival rate. Co-expression groups of heregulin and erbB3 proteins or heregulin and erbB4 proteins showed higher expressions in intestinal type adenocarcinomas and early gastric carcinomas.
CONCLUSION
Heregulin, erbB3, and erbB4 proteins may play a role in the early stage of adenocarcinomas.

Keyword

Gastric cancer; Heregulin; ErbB family; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Neuregulin-1*
Retrospective Studies
Stomach Neoplasms
Survival Rate
Neuregulin-1