c-erbB-2 is not a major factor in the development of colorectal cancer

J A McKay, J F Loane, V G Ross, M-M Ameyaw, G I Murray, J Cassidy, H L McLeod

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

We have investigated c-erbB-2 protein expression in a large cohort of well-characterized colorectal tumours, and in a subset of lymph node metastases. We have also evaluated a Val(655)Ile single nucleotide polymorphism, which is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, in a subset of the colorectal cancer patients and in healthy control subjects. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that while 81.8% of tumours expressed c-erbB-2, in the majority of cases equivalent levels of c-erb-B2 were seen in adjacent normal mucosa. Colon tumours were significantly more likely to express c-erbB-2 than rectal tumours (P=0.015). Only 52.4% of the metastases displayed staining patterns concordant with their primary tumour, indicating that determination of c-erbB-2 protein in colorectal tumours cannot predict the status of lymph node metastases. PCR--RFLP analysis of the Val(655)Ile single nucleotide polymorphism demonstrated that allele frequencies were identical between colorectal cancer patients and a control group of Caucasian subjects (Ile=0.80 and Val=0.20 in each case), indicating that it is not related to the risk of developing colorectal cancer in this population. Furthermore, there was no relationship between c-erbB-2 protein expression and gene polymorphism (P=0.58). In terms of prognosis, no association was seen between either c-erbB-2 protein expression or the presence of the Val allele and patient survival (P>0.05 in each case), suggesting that c-erbB-2 is not a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)568-73
Number of pages6
JournalBritish Journal of Cancer
Volume86
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 12 Feb 2002

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Adenocarcinoma
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Colorectal Neoplasms
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Genes, erbB-2
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2

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