title: Expression of epidermal growth factor receptors associated with lack of response to endocrine therapy in recurrent breast cancer.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) and oestrogen receptors (ER) were analysed in 221 patients with primary operable breast cancer by means of radioligand assays. After median follow-up of 24 months (range 3-60 months), there had been recurrences in 99 patients, of whom 72 (median age 56 years, range 32-77 years) received tamoxifen alone as first-line treatment for recurrence. 20 patients (28%) showed a response to this therapy and 52 (72%) did not. Of 32 ER-positive tumours, 12 (37.5%) showed an objective response to tamoxifen compared with only 2 of 40 (5%) ER-negative tumours (p less than 0.005). Of 35 EGFR-positive tumours, 3 (8.5%) achieved an objective response compared with 11 of 37 (30%) EGFR-negative tumours (p less than 0.05). Only 1 of 28 EGFR-positive, ER-negative tumours achieved an objective response. Including patients whose disease remained stable for more than 6 months with the responders, however, EGFR status was a better predictor of response to tamoxifen; 15 of 37 EGFR-negative patients and 5 of 35 EGFR-positive patients responded (p less than 0.01), compared with 13 of 32 ER-positive and 7 of 40 ER-negative patients (not significant). EGFR expression is a highly significant marker of poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer; it appears to be as good a predictor as ER for objective response and better for overall response to endocrine therapy on relapse.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Nicholson
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Sainsbury
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Halcrow
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Chambers
authors: J R
authors: JR
authors: Farndon
authors: A L
authors: AL
authors: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000032:analysis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D006854:Hydrocortisone