C-ERB B2 EXPRESSION IN COLORECTAL CARCINOMA; ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH TUMOR GRADE AND OTHER PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

Objective: The multidisciplinary management of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is based on tumor stage, grade, and presence of vascular invasion. In this approach, information derived from the molecular characteristics of the tumor may be missed. There is a need to determine new prognostic parameters. Human epidermal growth factor 2 (c-erb B2) protein overexpression is implicated in the development of various tumor types, while the data on CRC is ambiguous. This study aimed at determining the frequency of c-erb B2 overexpression in CRC, checking it against prognostic parameters, as it has a special role in breast and gastric cancers. Material and Methods: A total of 71 colectomy specimens diagnosed as CRC at the Mustafa Kemal University Medical Faculty, Department of Pathology between January 2007, and December 2012, were included in this study. The c-erb B2 overexpression of tumor cells was detected by using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Among the 71 CRC cases, 34 (47.9%) of them were c-erb B2 score 0, 22 (31%) of them were score 1, 10 (14.1%) of them were score 2, 5 (7%) of them were score 3. Conclusion: The overexpression of c-erb B2 protein was detected in 21.1% of CRC cases whereas no significant relationship with prognostic parameters was determined.