Epidermal growth factor receptor status and S-phase fractions in gastric carcinoma

The correlation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor expression and clinicopathologic findings were studied in 242 gastric carcinomas. They were stained for EGF receptor by means of an immunohistochemical technique using a monoclonal antibody against the receptor. S-Phase fractions were measured by in vivo bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling and indirect immunohistochemical staining using anti-BrdU monoclonal antibody. In normal gastric epithelium, EGF receptor immunoreactivity could not be found. EGF receptor was found in 76 (31.4%) of 242 gastric carcinomas. Diffusely infiltrating types of carcinomas were more likely than localized tumors to be EGF receptor-positive. In addition, EGF receptor-positive tumors had significantly higher values of BrdU labeling indices than EGF receptor-negative tumors. The patients with EGF receptor-positive carcinomas also had a poorer prognosis than did negative cases. These results suggested that EGF receptor-positive tumors may have higher proliferative activity and local extension may progress more rapidly, and also seem to show that EGF receptor status may possibly be a useful prognostic marker for gastric carcinomas.