Gallbladder cancers rarely overexpress HER-2/neu, demonstrated by Hercep test

Oncol Rep. 2004 Apr;11(4):815-9.

Abstract

c-erbB-2, proto-oncogene is amplified and overexpressed in a number of human adenocarcinomas. Overexpression of c-erbB-2 is indicated as a worse prognostic factor and associated with neoplastic progression in various organs. To investigate the therapeutic effect of Trastuzumab in gallbladder cancer, we studied HER-2/neu expression in 43 primary tumors, 12 metastatic lymph nodes and two liver metastasis, using the Hercep test. Among primary tumors, strong (3+) immunohistochemical intensity was found in two cases (4.7%), weak (2+) in two (4.7%) and negative (1+) (2.3%) in one case. This positivity rate was distinctly lower than those in previous reports. There was no tendency between clinicopathologic characteristics and HER-2 positivity in the primary gallbladder. Among 12 metastatic lymph nodes, only one specimen showed 2+ positivity where the primary lesion revealed 3+ intensity of HER-2. In two liver metastatic lesions, the expression of HER-2 was not found. Our study implied that Trastzumab may not contribute to improvement in treatment of gallbladder cancer. However, there may be a therapeutic possibility for cases with lymph node recurrence overexpressing c-erbB-2.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Gallbladder Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunochemistry
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • MAS1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Mas
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab