Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in breast cancer: association with response to endocrine therapy.
106 previously untreated breast cancer patients have been immunohistochemically analysed for EGF-R, ER, Ki67, and c-erbB-2 product. All patients received assessable endocrine therapy following disease progression. Significant associations were observed between EGF-R and ER (inverse) and Ki67 (direct). No association was observed between EGF-R and the c-erbB-2 product. EGF-R expression was significantly associated with the loss of endocrine sensitivity in breast cancer. This was observed in both ER positive and negative disease. In ER positive breast cancers, EGF-R expression had no significant influence on the quality of tumour remissions. Further sub-classification of the ER/EGF-R data by Ki67 immunostaining showed that in ER+/EGF-R-disease, increasing proportions of Ki67 positive cells were associated with a decline in the numbers of women experiencing good quality tumour remissions. A similar trend was also observed in ER+/EGF-R+ tumours. The presence of c-erbB-2 protein product did not influence endocrine sensitivity in any of the ER/EGF-R sub-groups.
Nicholson
R I
RI
Tenovus Cancer Research Centre, University of Wales College of Medicine, The Heath, Cardiff, U.K.
McClelland
R A
RA
Gee
J M
JM
Manning
D L
DL
Cannon
P
P
Robertson
J F
JF
Ellis
I O
IO
Blamey
R W
RW
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D017273:Goserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008535:Megestrol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D008593:Menopause; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D017273:Goserelin; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008535:Megestrol; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen