e14713 Background: The Cerb-B2/HER2 marker, is a glycoprotein encoded by the ERBB2 oncogene, belongs to the family of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), which has based its application on tests of new therapeutic modalities (target therapy). Apart from this interest has been invoked its value as a marker of tumor aggressiveness, due to his role as a regulator of cell proliferation and migration and consequent invasiveness and metastization. However, the results as to the meaning prognosis of this molecular marker are controversial and with variations depending on the geographical zone. Results: From a total of 50 pts. with advanced resectable gastric cancer that underwent surgery with D2 lymphadenectomy, 38 pts. had a total gastrectomy, and 12 pts. had subtotal gastrectomy. A mean of 35.7 lymph nodes/pt were resected at surgery. In 68% of pts. positive lymph node metastases were present. Tumor HER2-neu overexpression was observed in 16 pts (32%), several other parameters of tumor aggressiveness were also present, without any statistical significance or relevance. Methods: To determine if the Cerb-B2 played a prognostic role in gastric cancer, a total of 50 pts. with advanced resectable gastric cancer, were submitted to gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy. In all cases assessment for tumor HER2-neu overexpression was performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). FISH was used as a confirmation method in tumors with 2+ expression by IHC. A correlation was made between the tumor HER2-neu expression and the following parameters: tumor location, size, histological type, depth of invasion, lymph node metastases and clinical staging. Results: From a total of 50 pts. with advanced resectable gastric cancer that underwent surgery with D2 lymphadenectomy, 38 pts. had a total gastrectomy, and 12 pts. had subtotal gastrectomy. A mean of 35.7 lymph nodes/pt were resected at surgery. In 68% of pts. positive lymph node metastases were present.Tumor HER2-neu overexpression was observed in 16 pts (32%), several other parameters of tumor aggressiveness were also present, without any statistical significance or relevance. Conclusions: The determination of Cerb-B2 / HER2 expression has not shown prognostic significance in this study.
Risk Factors for Lymph Node Metastases and their Prognostic Significance in Early Gastric Cancer (EGC) for the Italian Research Group for Gastric Cancer (IRGGC)