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Published in: Journal of Gastroenterology 1/2015

01-01-2015 | Original Article—Alimentary Tract

Evaluation of serum HER2-ECD levels in patients with gastric cancer

Authors: Katsunobu Oyama, Sachio Fushida, Tomoya Tsukada, Jun Kinoshita, Toshifumi Watanabe, Masatoshi Shoji, Shinichi Nakanuma, Koichi Okamoto, Seisho Sakai, Isamu Makino, Keishi Nakamura, Hironori Hayashi, Masafumi Inokuchi, Hisatoshi Nakagawara, Tomoharu Miyashita, Hidehiro Tajima, Hiroyuki Takamura, Itasu Ninomiya, Hirohisa Kitagawa, Takashi Fujimura, Ryousuke Tajiri, Akishi Ooi, Tetsuo Ohta

Published in: Journal of Gastroenterology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Determination of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status of gastric cancer patients is indispensable in clinical practice. However, the clinical value of serum HER2-extracellular domain (ECD) in gastric cancer has not yet been defined.

Methods

The serum level of HER2-ECD was measured using the chemiluminescence immunoassay method, and its relationship with tissue HER2 status and clinicopathologic features was examined. Transition of serum HER2-ECD level was examined in patients during chemotherapy to clarify the correlation between changes in the level of HER2-ECD in serum and response to chemotherapy.

Results

A total of 150 gastric cancer patients were enrolled in this study; changes in HER2-ECD level were examined in 36 of these patients during chemotherapy. Serum levels of HER2-ECD ranged from 4.8 to 180.0 ng/ml (median 9.2 ng/ml) and were positive (cutoff value 15.2 ng/ml) in ten patients (6.7 %). There was a significant correlation between serum HER2-ECD level and tissue HER2 status (P < 0.001); however, no correlation with TNM stage was found. Change in serum HER2-ECD level during chemotherapy was significantly correlated with response to chemotherapy in patients with HER2-positive tumor tissue.

Conclusions

Serum HER2-ECD is a potential biomarker of gastric cancer and could be used as a diagnostic marker with regard to tissue HER2 status, and also as a monitoring marker in relation to response to chemotherapy.
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Metadata
Title
Evaluation of serum HER2-ECD levels in patients with gastric cancer
Authors
Katsunobu Oyama
Sachio Fushida
Tomoya Tsukada
Jun Kinoshita
Toshifumi Watanabe
Masatoshi Shoji
Shinichi Nakanuma
Koichi Okamoto
Seisho Sakai
Isamu Makino
Keishi Nakamura
Hironori Hayashi
Masafumi Inokuchi
Hisatoshi Nakagawara
Tomoharu Miyashita
Hidehiro Tajima
Hiroyuki Takamura
Itasu Ninomiya
Hirohisa Kitagawa
Takashi Fujimura
Ryousuke Tajiri
Akishi Ooi
Tetsuo Ohta
Publication date
01-01-2015
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Journal of Gastroenterology / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 0944-1174
Electronic ISSN: 1435-5922
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-014-0941-3

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