A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Amplification of HER-2 in gastric carcinoma: association with Topoisomerase II alpha gene amplification, intestinal type, poor prognosis and sensitivity to trastuzumab




AuthorsTanner M, Hollmen M, Junttila TT, Kapanen AI, Tommola S, Soini Y, Helin H, Salo J, Joensuu H, Sihvo E, Elenius K, Isola J

PublisherOXFORD UNIV PRESS

Publication year2005

JournalAnnals of Oncology

Journal name in sourceANNALS OF ONCOLOGY

Journal acronymANN ONCOL

Volume16

Issue2

First page 273

Last page278

Number of pages6

ISSN0923-7534

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdi064


Abstract
Background: HER-2/neu gene amplification has predictive value in breast cancer patients responding to trastuzumab. We wanted to investigate the frequency and clinical significance of HER-2/neu amplification in gastric carcinoma.Patients and methods: The frequency of HER-2/neu and Topoisomerase IIalpha gene amplification was studied in adenocarcinomas of the stomach (n = 131) and the gastroesophageal junction (n = 100) by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). Sensitivity of a gastric cancer cell line N87 with HER-2/neu amplification to trastuzumab was studied by a cell viability assay and compared with that of a HER-2 amplified breast cancer cell line SKBR-3. Growth inhibition of N87 cells was also verified in vivo in N87 xenograft tumors.Results: HER-2/neu amplification was present in 16 (12.2%) of the 131 gastric and in 24 (24.0%) of the 100 gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas. Co-amplification of Topoisomerase Ha was present in the majority of gastric (63%) and esophagogastric junction cancers (68%) with HER-2/neu amplification. HER-2/neu amplification was more common in the intestinal histologic type of gastric cancer (21.5%) than in the diffuse (2%) or the mixed/anaplastic type (5%, P=0.0051), but it was not associated with gender, age at diagnosis or clinical stage. Presence of HER-2/neu amplification was associated with poor carcinoma-specific survival (P=0.0089). HER-2/neu targeting antibody trastuzumab inhibited the growth of a p185(HER-2/neu) overexpressing gastric and breast carcinoma cell lines (N87 and SKBR-3) with equal efficacy.Conclusions: HER-2/neu amplification is common in the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma, and it is associated with a poor outcome. HER-2 might be a useful target in this disease, and this hypothesis deserves to be investigated in clinical trials.



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