Correlation analysis of mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor protein and human epidermal growth receptor 2 protein expression in 1479 cases of lung adenocarcinoma in China.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the correlation between mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (C-Met) and human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) protein expression in primary lung adenocarcinoma tissues.

METHOD: A total of 1479 resected primary lung adenocarcinoma patients were enrolled in the present study for detecting of C-Met and HER2 protein by immunohistochemistry, and correlation analysis was made between the above two biomarkers and related clinicopathological features.

RESULT: Both C-Met and HER2 proteins were found to stain highly positive in lung adenocarcinomas, and a positive correlation was found between them (χ2  = 118.5, P = 2.707 × 10-21 ). In addition, HER2 protein expression was correlated with sex, pathological stage, lymph node metastasis, and major subtypes; and C-Met was correlated with sex (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The expression of C-Met and HER2 protein in lung adenocarcinoma is highly correlated, and whether it is synergistic in the targeted therapy of lung adenocarcinoma deserves further study.