Prognostic value of c-erbB-2 and epidermal growth factor receptor in stage A1 (T1a) prostatic adenocarcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the presence or absence of the oncoproteins epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erbB-2 could predict tumour behaviour.


METHODS
Tissue from 45 stage A1 (T1a) prostatic adenocarcinomas from patients with a mean age of 65 years were immunostained for EGFR (12E) and c-erbB-2 (NCL-CB11). Their expression in the tumour and surrounding benign hyperplastic epithelium was correlated with each other and with survival.


RESULTS
Forty percent (18 of 45) and 36% (16 of 45) of patients respectively were EGFR and c-erbB-2 positive in the tumour. Expression of these tyrosine kinase oncogenes was not confined to the tumour and the surrounding hyperplastic prostate was also positive for EGFR in 76% (34/45) of patients and for c-erbB-2 in 16% (11 of 45). EGFR and c-erbB-2 expression was weakly associated in both benign and malignant epithelium. Statistical analysis of survival showed that tumour c-erbB-2 expression was associated with a significantly worse prognosis (exact two tailed P = 0.0316), whereas no significant association was observed between EGFR expression and survival (P = 0.737).


CONCLUSIONS
As c-erbB-2 expression increases the rate of dying by 4.2 times, recording its expression by these tumours may be useful in selecting patients who would benefit from treatment in stage A1 (T1a) disease.
Fox
S B
SB
Department of Pathology, University of Sheffield Medical School, UK.
Persad
R A
RA
Coleman
N
N
Day
C A
CA
Silcocks
P B
PB
Collins
C C
CC
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000401:mortality; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases