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 (χ(2) = 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.