Discordance rate of HER2 status in primary gastric carcinomas and synchronous lymph node metastases: a multicenter retrospective analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The assessment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene amplification is essential in order to identify those patients affected by advanced gastric cancer who may benefit from Trastuzumab targeted therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

With the aim to investigate the concordance rate in HER2 status between primary gastric carcinoma (GC) and synchronous lymphnode metastases, we investigated HER2 status in a cohort of 108 surgical formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of GC and matched synchronous metastatic lymph nodes collected from three different units of Anatomic Pathology in southern of Italy. Fleiss-Cohen weighted k statistics were used to assess the concordance rate of HER2 status.

RESULTS:

HER2 amplification was observed in 17% of primary GCs and the overall concordance rate with corresponding nodal metastases was 90.74%. Changes in HER2 status between primary GC and matched synchronous metastases were evidenced in 10 (9.26%) cases. Of these, 6 cases were HER2 amplified in the primary GC and not amplified in the metastases, while 4 were HER2 not amplified in the primary tumour and amplified in the lymph node metastases.

CONCLUSIONS:

Although at present the simultaneous determination of HER2 in advanced gastric cancer and corresponding metastatic lymph nodes is not mandatory, the possibility that the synchronous metastases of GC have a different HER2 status from that of the primary tumour is of remarkable significance; Indeed this may have influence on the therapeutic management and prognosis of the patients.

• Authors: Antonio Ieni, Valeria Barresi, Rosario Caltabiano, Alessia Caleo, Luca Reggiani Bonetti, Salvatore Lanzafame, Pio Zeppa, Rosario Alberto Caruso, Giovanni Tuccari
• Journal: International journal of molecular sciences (Int J Mol Sci) Vol. 15 Issue 12 Pg. 22331-41 (Dec 03 2014) ISSN: 1422-0067 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 25479078 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• ERBB2 protein, human
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (metabolism)
• Retrospective Studies
• Stomach Neoplasms (metabolism, pathology)