The prognostic value of serum epidermal growth factor receptor level in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been implicated as a factor indicating tumour progression or as a prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in which its overexpression is often detected. The usefulness of identifying EGFR in serum from patients with NSCLC is controversial. This study was designed to identify serum EGFR levels in patients with NSCLC and to evaluate the relationship between serum EGFR levels and clinical stage, histological subtype and survival time. Serum EGFR levels were measured using quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The study included 43 patients with NSCLC and 16 healthy controls. The histological classification was 29 squamous carcinomas and 14 adenocarcinomas. Serum samples were collected before treatment.There was no difference between serum EGFR levels in patients with NSCLC (17.53+/-8.09 fmol/mL) in comparison with those healthy controls (16.88+/-7.08 fmol/mL; p=0.912). There was also no difference in serum EGFR levels according to clinical stage or histological subtype. There was no relationship between serum EGFR levels and survival time in patients with NSCLC. The study's results suggest that, the utility of serum EGFR levels in patients with NSCLC as a tumour marker or as a prognostic factor is limited. However, further prospective studies on a large number of patients will be necessary to confirm this study's results.