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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background: Gastric cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, affecting one million people per year. Currently, gastric cancer is still the seventh most common cause of cancer-related death in the USA, and the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer remains poor. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of Her-2 overexpression and amplification in Egyptian patients with gastric/gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma, in correlation with tumor histology, grade, size, and location (cardia vs. noncardia). Patients and methods: This study included 39 eligible patients with pathologically proven gastric/gastroesophageal carcinoma presented to Menoufia University Oncology Hospital, Alexandria Military Hospital, from January 2012 until the end of June 2013. Results: It was found that the mean age was 55.3 years. There was slightly higher incidence in the male population (51.3%). All of them had tumors of diffuse histopathological type. Stage at presentation was as follows: localized, one (2.6%); locally advanced, 20 (51.3%); and metastatic, 18 (46.2%). Her-2 was found to be overexpressed in four out of 39 patients (10.3%). Her-2-negative patients had a significantly longer overall survival (9 months in Her-2 negative-patients vs. 4 months in Her-2-positive patients) (P= 0.01). Progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly prolonged in Her-2-negative patients. Her-2-negative patients had a PFS of 8 months, versus only 4 months in Her-2-positive patients (P= 0.01). Median survival and PFS in locally advanced disease were significantly affected by the Her-2 status (P= 0.02). Neither median survival (P= 0.8) nor PFS (P= 0.5) was affected in metastatic disease. Conclusion: Her-2 is a prognostic factor in a small cohort of Egyptian patients with gastric/gastroesophageal carcinoma.

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