Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor in the serum of gastric carcinoma patients.
BACKGROUND
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in various malignancies including carcinoma of the breast, lung, esophagus, cervix, and stomach. In patients with gastric carcinoma, its overexpression may be associated with advanced stage and poor prognosis.


METHODS
The levels of EGFR extracellular domain were determined in serum from 40 gastric carcinoma patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum EGFR levels were measured in 5 Stage I, 2 Stage II, 6 Stage III, and 27 Stage IV patients, and 29 healthy controls.


RESULTS
The mean serum level for EGFR in the gastric carcinoma patients was significantly elevated compared with that of healthy controls (681 +/- 226 fmol/mL vs. 440 +/- 46 fmol/mL; P < 0.0001). Thirty-one patients with gastric carcinoma (77.5%) showed elevated EGFR levels above a cutoff value of 532 fmol/mL (defined as 2 standard deviations above the mean of the controls). No significant association was noted between positivity of EGFR and gender, age, stage, and tumor differentiation.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors believe that serum EGFR could be useful as a tumor marker of gastric carcinoma for diagnosis, prognosis, follow-up after surgery, and monitoring patient response to chemotherapy.
Choi
J H
JH
Department of Hematology-Oncology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon, Korea.
Oh
J Y
JY
Ryu
S K
SK
Kim
S J
SJ
Lee
N Y
NY
Kim
Y S
YS
Yi
S Y
SY
Shim
K S
KS
Han
W S
WS
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors