A study of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression by immunohistochemistry in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma

Background. Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes cancer-related deaths across world and in Middle East. Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression has been observed gastric cancers. Trastuzumab, a recombinant monoclonal antibody targeting HER2 protein, being used for treatment metastatic cancer. Objective. To study frequency association with age, gender, histopathological subtype grade differentiation patients adenocarcinoma from Basra, Iraq. Methods. This cross-sectional single-center collected demographic (age, gender), (histological subtype, differentiation) immunohistochemical (HER2 status) data 100 consenting adult (male: 56) histopathologically confirmed samples obtained through endoscopy or surgery. Results. (ToGA score 3+) was 6/100 (6%) patients, another 6 showing ‘equivocal’ expression (2+). Out 20 moderately differentiated cancer, 4 (20%) showed (p=0.008). Other factors considered histological subtype) did not show statistically significant correlation overexpression. More females than males (4 vs 2), more intestinal type diffuse (5 1), but difference both variables. Conclusion. 6% this population; found grade. Statistically non-significant correlations were between subtype.