Immunohistochemical Analysis of p53, Ki-67, CD44, HER-2/neu Expression Patterns in Gastric Cancer, and Their Association with One Year Survival in North-West of Iran

INTRODUCTION Gastric cancer remains the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In many malignancies like, lung and breast, multiple prognostic factors are known, such as mutations in Ki-67, HER-2/neu, p53. In this study, we evaluated immunohistochemical protein expression patterns of cell-cycle-regulators p53, proliferation marker Ki-67, surface expression of CD44, HER-2/neu oncogene proposed as useful prognostic factors. METHODS In this descriptive-analytic study, we evaluate 100 patients with gastric cancer who were referred to Shahid Ghazi Hospital or other oncology clinics of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2005-2010. Patients with pathologic confirmation of gastric cancer were selected. Expression of p53, ki-67, CD-44, HER-2/neu were detected by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS In this study, 100 patients with gastric cancer participated. 76(76%) were men and 24(24%) were women with mean age of 64.02(8.05) years. Seventy two samples were intestinal type and 28 were diffuse type. CD44 was positive in 27(27%) patients. P53 was positive in 35(35%) patients. Ki-67 was positive in 53(53%) patients. HER-2/neu was positive in 51(51%) patients. CONCLUSION The frequency of positive p53, Ki-67, CD44 and HER-2/neu varied in different studies. Positive Ki-67 and HER-2/neu were not associated with changes in survival but positive p53 and CD44 were significantly associated with improved survival.