WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY, ESTROGEN RECEPTOR AND CerbB2 EXPRESSION ON SURVIVAL IN GALLBLADDER CARCINOMA?

Abstract

Treatment options for gallbladder carcinomas are still very limited and prognostic factors are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between microsatellite instability (MSI), estrogen/progesterone receptor, CerbB2 (HER2 / Neu) status, as well as other prognostic parameters, and survival, in order to contribute to pathogenetic, prognostic and targeted therapeutic information. Material&Methods: In this retrospective study cases of gallbladder carcinoma diagnosed in two centers between 2008-2020 were included. Besides histopathological features of the tumors, the expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 for microsatellite instability (MSI), estrogen receptor alpha (ER-?) / progesterone receptor (PR) and CerbB2 status were immunohistochemically investigated. CerbB2 positivity was verified by Silver-enhanced in situ hybridization (SISH) method. Results: Seventy-five gallbladder carcinomas were included. In one case (1.3%) ER-? immunostaining, in 25 cases (33.3%) SISH- confirmed CerbB2 positivity and, in 3 cases (4%) MSI were detected. Statistically, a significant relationship was found between grade, vascular invasion, perineural invasion and survival (p <0.05). Survival in CerbB2 positive cases (46 months) was significantly longer than negative ones (15 months) (p = 0.021). Conclusion: In this study on gallbladder carcinomas, tumor grade, perineural invasion and vascular invasion had negative effect on survival. CerbB2 positivity was seen in every three case and they showed a longer survival. Estrogen positivity was very rarely observed. MSI might be worth investigating.