ERBB2 and rectal cancer: While data about the prognostic and functional relevance of HER-2 expression are still limited for most gastrointestinal malignancies [21, 23], we have recently reported HER-2 positivity in more than 20% of primary rectal cancer [24], and overexpression of HER-2 in nearly 10% of CRC-derived liver metastases [25].