Frequency of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2/Neu) expression in gastric adenocarcinoma in rehman medical institute peshawar

Objective: To investigate the frequency of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 over expression in gastric adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemistry and to find the association of its expression with clinicopathological parameters. Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar, Pakistan, from January to December 2016, and comprised consecutive formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples of gastric adenocarcinoma. The cases were scored for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 expression according to criteria cited in Trastuzumab for Gastric Cancer trial. Correlation of the expression with different clinicopathological parameters was determined. SPSS 23 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 55 cases, 49(89%) were biopsies and 6(11%) were gastrectomies. Among the patients whose samples were tested, 41(74.5%) were male. The overall mean age was 59.16±12.58 years (range: 38-95 years). Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 overexpression (3+) was present in 19(34.5%) cases.Out of 21(38.2%) cases of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, 10(47.6%) showed overexpression. It was commonest in tumours of the fundus area 7(31.6%). No association of the expression was found with tumour's histological grade and location, or with patient's gender and age (p>0.05 each). Conclusion: More than one-third of the sample had overexpression of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2.