Abstract

To evaluate the prognostic significance of c-erbB2, c-fos, p53, PCNA and EGF in stage III gastric carcinoma, frequency of their expression was examined by immunohistochemical method in 206 cases of stage III gastric carcinomas with paraffin-embedded tissue specimens which were obtained surgically at the department of surgery, Kosin Medical College from 1984 to 1988. Survival rate and other clinicopathological parameters were analysed. Expression rates of c-erbB2, c-fos, p53, PCNA and EGF were 46.1%, 43.7%, 62.1%, 65.0% and 35.9% respectively. Correlation of expression was found betweer. EGF and c-fos, EGF and c- erbB2, and c-erbB2 and c-fos respectively. c-erbB2 expression was more frequently observed in intestinal type, well or moderately differentiated carcinomas than diffuse type, poorly differentiated or mucinous types(p<0.05). Similarly EGF expression rate was high in intestinal type and low in mucinous or signet ring cell types(p<0.05). Five year survival rates of positive cases and negative cases were 27.4% and 23.9% in c-erbB2, 27.7% and 23.9% in c-fos, 24.0% and 27.8% in p53, 25.1% and 26.4% in PCNA and 20.5% and 28.9% in EGF respectively. There were no significant differences between positive cases and negative cases in survival rates. When the above factors and conventiona1 prognostic fectors such es tumor depth(t3, t4), lymph node invasion(n0, nl, n2), number of positive nodes(l-3, 4-6, 7- ), Laurens types, were en- tered simultaneously into the Cox regression model, number of positive nodes, and RGF expression emerged as independent prognostic factors(p=0.0004, p=0.043 respectively).

• Keywords: Stage III gastric carcinoma, c-erbB2, c-fos, p53, PCNA, EGF, Prognositic factor