Expression and clinical significance of epidermal growth factor receptor and protein kinase B in gastric carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the association between survival and expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and protein kinase B (AKT) in gastric carcinoma specimens.Methods EGFR and AKT were detected by immunohistochemistry in 84 patients with gastric cancer and 15 controls. Association between their expressions and clinical characteristics as well as prognosis were analyzed. Results In patients with gastric cancer, expression rates were significantly higher than those in 15 normal gastric tissues for EGFR(55.9% vs. 20%,P＜0.05) and AKT(64.3% vs. 6.7%,P＜0.01 ). Expression of EGFR was associated with late staging (P＜0.01), while expression of AKT was assoicated with lymph node metastasis (P＜0.01). Overall 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with EGFR negative expression (49.0% vs. 22.0%, P＜0.05). Overall 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with AKT expression(45.7% vs. 30.2%,P＜0.05). Conclusion Expression of EGFR and AKT negative may be used to evaluate the degree of differentiation and prognosis in patients with gastric carcinoma. Key words: Stomach neoplasms;  Epidermal growth factor receptor;  Protein kinase B (AKT);  Prognosis