C-ERBB-2 EXPRESSION IS PREDICTIVE FOR LYMPHATIC SPREAD OF CLINICAL GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

Background/Aims: In patients with gastric carcinoma, the prognostic si gnificance of c-erbB-2 oncogene expression was elucidated, but its rol e in the aggressive behavior of tumors is not clear. Patients and Meth ods: We ashed whether or not c-erbB-2 gene expression may have predict ability with regard to the metastatic potential in 160 patients with u sing a immunohistochemical staining and a multivariate analysis. Resul ts: c-erbB-2 immunoreactivity was observed in 11% (17/160) of tumors. Patients with c-erbB-2 product positive tumors had a significant short er prognosis (p < 0.05), and were characterized by a high incidence of peritoneal dissemination (41%), Liver metastasis (18%) and lymph node involvement (94%). In the multivariate logistic analysis revealed tha t c-erbB-2 expression was a significant risk factor related to lymph n ode involvement (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our multivariate analysis rev ealed that c-erbB-2 expression, is linked to the metastatic potential in, patients with gastric carcinoma.