Clinical significance of nucleophosmin/B23 and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2/neu expressions in gastric cancers.

The aim of the study was to investigate the expression levels of 'NPM'/nucleophosmin/B23 and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2)/neu in gastric cancer (GC) and corresponding non-malignant tissues, correlation with their clinicopathological parameters and the relationship of nucleophosmin/B23 and Her-2/neu in the occurrence and development of GC. A total of 131 postoperative patients were examined for nucleophosmin/B23 expression by immuno-histochemistry and for Her-2/neu expression by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the median follow-up period of 38 months. The positive expression rates of nucleophosmin (NPM) in neoplastic tissues and adjacent gastric mucosa were 65.6% and 52.7%, respectively. Nucleophosmin/B23 levels were linked to more advanced tumor stages, poor prognosis, and likelihood of recurrence (p < 0.05). The Cox multivariate analysis indicated that the nucleophosmin/B23 expression was an independent indicator for tumor recurrence (p = 0.011). Of the total GC specimens 12.21% were positive for Her-2/neu, but whose expression was of no correlation with patients' survival. Patients who were positive for Her-2/neu also had high NPM expression levels (p = 0.0303). The results suggest that nucleophosmin/B23 is a favorable prognostic indicator for GC. But Her-2/neu has no relationship with the prognosis of GC. The combined clinical significance of nucleophosmin/B23 and Her-2/neu remains to be further investigated.