Immunohistochemical detection of epidermal growth factor receptor lacks prognostic significance for breast carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether the immunohistochemical detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in primary cancer tissues is of prognostic significance in patients with breast carcinoma.


METHODS
Paraffin-embedded tissues from 244 study subjects with primary breast carcinomas were tested immunohistochemically for the presence of EGF-R and were compared in a retrospective study with clinical outcome.


RESULTS
Epidermal growth factor receptor was detected in the tumors of 49 (20.1%) of the 244 study subjects. The incidence of EGF-R detection was comparable in subjects with disease-free lymph nodes (T1-4, N0, M0, n = 111; EGF-R present 22.5%) or those whose nodes contained carcinoma (T1-4, N+, M0, n = 133; EGF-R present 18.9%). No reliable correlation was found in either group between EGF-R detection and clinical, functional, or morphologic prognostic indicators that included age, menopausal status, tumor size, tumor grade, nodal status, and hormone receptor status. Relapse-free survival and overall survival (median observation time 62.5 months) did not differ between patients with EGF-R-positive or EGF-R-negative breast carcinoma specimens.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, the immunohistochemical determination of EGF-R in routine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens fails to provide useful information concerning the prognosis of patients with primary breast carcinoma.
Göhring
U J
UJ
University of Cologne Women's Hospital, Germany.
Ahr
A
A
Scharl
A
A
Weisner
V
V
Neuhaus
W
W
Crombach
G
G
Holt
J A
JA
D000367:Age Factors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D066246:ErbB Receptors