Objective: To evaluate the association between survival and expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) and protein kinase B(AKT) in gastric carcinoma specimens.
Methods: EGFR and AKT were detected by immunohistochemistry in 84 patients with gastric cancer and 15 controls. Association between their expressions and clinical characteristics as well as prognosis were analyzed.
Results: In patients with gastric cancer,expression rates were significantly higher than those in 15 normal gastric tissues for EGFR(55.9% vs. 20%, P<0.05) and AKT(64.3% vs. 6.7%, P<0.01). Expression of EGFR was associated with late staging(P<0.01), while expression of AKT was associated with lymph node metastasis(P<0.01). Overall 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with EGFR negative expression (49.0% vs. 22.0%, P<0.05). Overall 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with AKT expression(45.7% vs. 30.2%, P<0.05).
Conclusion: Expression of EGFR and AKT negative may be used to evaluate the degree of differentiation and prognosis in patients with gastric carcinoma.