title: Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in gynecological malignancies.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor receptor (IEGF-R) levels were analyzed in 72 gynecological tumor specimens. Measurable EGR-R levels were found in a significant percentage of ovarian and uterine tumors. Moreover, all vulvar epidermoid carcinomas and uterine sarcomas analyzed were EGF-R positive. In all tumor types examined, scattered EGF-R levels were observed. Higher EGF-R levels were found in metastatic than in primary ovarian tumors. Moreover, EGF-R were found to be more expressed in less differentiated than in well-moderately differentiated endometrial tumors. Our results suggest a role of EGF or EGF-like substances in regulating the growth of gynecological malignancies, and indicate EGF-R expression as a possible prognostic factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benedetti Panici
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baiocchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrone
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iacobelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
mesh_terms: D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors