Study of HER2/neu Overexpression in Colorectal Carcinoma at a Tertiary Care Centre in Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Introduction: Colorectal cancer remains one of the major leading causes of death worldwide. The
therapeutic implications of Human Epidermal Growth Factor (HER2/neu) in certain cancers like breast
cancer and gastric cancer has already established. The prognostic significance of molecular marker
HER2/neu in colorectal cancer is unclear and studies have shown wide range of positivity, 0%-83%.
This study was undertaken to study overexpression of HER2/neu in colorectal cancer, hence opening
doors to new modalities of treatment.
Material and Methods: The study included 77 cases with a histological diagnosis of colorectal cancers
received in pathology department of our medical college and hospital during a period of 49 months from
September 2013 to September 2017. Immunohistochemical staining for Her-2/neu receptor using
enzyme linked polymer based detection method was done in each and every case of colorectal
carcinoma and scoring for Her-2/neu was done according to ASCO/CAP Guidelines Update 2013.
Poorly fixed/unfixed specimens and patients with past history of breast cancer were excluded.
Results: Among the 77 cases studied, age of patients ranged from 21-80 years with male predominance.
Most common age group involve was 51-60 years. The commonest histopathological finding was
moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. HER2/neu immunohistochemistry score of “3+” was taken
as positive, which constituted 3.89%.