HER-2/neu and TOPIIα Expression in Gastric Cancer Reflect Disease Severity

Background/Aims: Gastric cancer is associated with high morbidity and mortality, but reliable diagnostic and prognostic markers have not been established. Here we explored the clinical significance of two proteins, HER-2/neu and TOPII alpha-associated with development and progression of various tumor types-in gastric cancer. We also analyzed the correlation between expression of these proteins and clinicopathological parameters of gastric tumors. Methodology: Tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples were collected from 62 patients with gastric cancer and subjected to immunohistochemistry with anti-HER-2/neu and -TOPII alpha antibodies. Results: HER-2/neu (21.0%) and TOPII alpha (80.6%) were expressed more commonly in gastric cancer than in normal gastric tissue (9.7% and 60.3%, respectively; p<0.05). However, there was no correlation between HER-2/neu and TOPII alpha expression in gastric tumors. Further analysis showed a correlation between HER-2/neu expression and lymph node metastasis, distant metastases and tumor stage (p<0.05); TOPII alpha was correlated with infiltration depth, distant metastases and tumor stage (p<0.05). Conclusions: HER-2/neu and TOPII alpha are over expressed in gastric tumors and may promote disease progression. These proteins may therefore be useful as prognostic markers in evaluation of patients with gastric cancer.