Serum levels of c-erbB-2 protein in digestive diseases

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology Vol. 29; no. 5; p. 616
• Main Authors: Motoo, Y, Sawabu, N, Yamaguchi, Y, Mouri, I, Yamakawa, O, Watanabe, H, Ohta, H, Okai, T, Makino, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 01.10.1994
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; alpha-Fetoproteins - analysis; Digestive System Diseases - blood; Digestive System Neoplasms - blood; Female; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Liver Diseases - blood; Male; Middle Aged; Receptor, ErbB-2 - blood
• ISSN: 0944-1174
• DOI: 10.1007/bf02365445

The clinical significance of the measurement of c-erbB-2 oncogene product was evaluated. The subjects consisted of 404 patients, including 248 with cancer of the digestive organs and 128 with benign digestive diseases. Serum c-erbB-2 protein levels were measured by sandwich immunoenzyme assay. The positive rates of c-erbB-2 protein, at a cut-off value of 17.0 U/ml, were, for cancers: hepatocellular carcinoma 61.6%, biliary tract cancer 54.8%, pancreatic cancer 25.0%, esophageal cancer 33.3%, gastric cancer 16.9%, and colorectal cancer 5.0%. For benign digestive diseases, the rates were: liver cirrhosis 63.3%, chronic hepatitis 43.2%, acute hepatitis 42.9%, other liver diseases 42.8%, cholelithiasis 30.0%, and chronic pancreatitis 0%. Serum c-erbB-2 protein levels were significantly correlated with the markers of hepatic functional reserve, the indocyanine green retention rate and the hepaplastin test. These findings suggest that serum c-erbB-2 protein levels are greatly influenced by liver dysfunction and that their clinical usefulness as a serum tumor marker is questionable.