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Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a prognostic marker: an immunohistochemical study on 315 consecutive
Objective:
To assess the independent and interdependent prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in carcinoma of breast in female population. The Type 1 family of growth factor receptors includes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR also known as EGFR1).
Methods:
The expression of EGFR protein was analysed immunohistochemically on 315 tumour specimens of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast. These patients also had axillary lymph nodes sampling.
Results:
Overexpression and/or amplification of EGFR was observed in 70 (22.00%) tumours. Eleven (16%) were grade I, 43 (61%) grade II and 16 (23%) grade III tumours. Axillary lymph node metastasis had significant correlation with intensified positivity of EGFR (p < 0.05). Significant number of EGFR positive patients developed local recurrence and distant metastases to brain, liver and bone (p < 0.05). EGFR positivity showed significant correlation with the disease free and overall survival (p < 0.05). At a median follow-up of 48 (4 years) months in EGFR positive patients, the overall survival was 3.39 years and disease free survival was 2.86 years. EGFR negative tumour patients showed a better survival. In this group the overall survival was 4.62 years and the disease free survival was 4 years.
Conclusion:
EGFR analysis can be a useful indicator for the selection of patients who are at the high risk, for hormonal therapy decisions and can be useful as a target for new treatment modalities.