Affiliations: Medical University of Gdańsk, Division of
Propedeutics of Oncology, Gdańsk, Poland | Maritime Hospital in Gdynia, Gdynia Centre of
Oncology, Oncological Surgery Department, Gdynia, Poland | Medical University of Gdańsk, Department of
Pathomorphology, Gdańsk, Poland | Medical University of Gdańsk, Department of
Oncological Surgery, Gdańsk, Poland
Note: [] Corresponding author: Wiesław Janusz Kruszewski, Division of
Propedeutics of Oncology, 81-519 Gdynia, Powstania Styczniowego 9B, Poland.
Tel.: +48 603336060; Tel./Fax: +48 58 6998250; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Estimation of HER2 membranous expression is routinely used in breast
and gastric cancers, as both a prognostic and a predictive factor. To date
there is no evidence for similar application of HER2 expression in colorectal
cancer (CRC) cells. In CRC, HER2 is sometimes overexpressed in the cell
membrane and very often in the cytoplasm. This study was conducted to determine
possible correlations between both membranous and cytoplasmatic expression of
HER2 in CRC cells and the outcome of the disease. The prognostic significance
of combined staining intensity in the cell membrane and cytoplasm in the entire
CRC cell was also investigated. HER2 expression in resectable colorectal
adenocarcinoma cells was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in specimens taken
from 202 patients. The percentage of cancer cells with membranous or
cytoplasmatic reactions and the staining intensity of the reaction in the whole
cell were recorded. A membranous reaction was present in 27% of cases, and
cytoplasmatic reaction in 66% of cases. The total staining intensity in the
entire cell was evaluated as moderate (2+) in 32% of cases and strong (3+)
staining in 15%. There was no correlation found between either membranous or
cytoplasmatic HER2 expression and survival. Furthermore combined staining
intensity did not provide any prognostic information. We conclude that HER2
expression in CRC does not correlate with prognosis.
