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.