HER 2 expression status in gastric carcinomas in Ibadan, Nigeria: a preliminary study using immunohistochemistry

MATERIALS AND METHODS- Archival formalin fixed paraffin embedded gastric Adenocarcinoma tumour tissue from the Department of Pathology, University College Hospital, Ibadan were studied for HER 2 protein status using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS- HER 2 protein receptor status was determined in 36 cases using immunohistochemistry. The male: female ratio was 1.4:1. The age range of the patients was 30 to 86 years, with peak age-groups being in the 6th and 7th decade of life. Mean age of the patients was 57.6 years while the median age was 56years. Four cases were positive for the HER 2 receptor protein representing about 11% of the cases. Two cases had staining score of 2+ while another 2 cases had score of 3+. The four positive cases were intestinal variants of gastric adenocarcinomas based on Laurens classification. Three were well differentiated tumours and one was moderately differentiated. CONCLUSION- HER 2 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry can be demonstrated in black Africans with gastric carcinoma. More detailed and multicentre studies will be needed to draw firm conclusions in this regard.