Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in primary laryngeal cancer: an independent prognostic factor of neck node relapse.
Specimens of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) were examined for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) content using a radioreceptor method; 140 untreated consecutive patients with primary LSCC undergoing initial surgical resection were followed up for a median of 49 months (range 2-84 months) after surgery. Cox univariate regression analysis using EGFR as a continuous variable showed that EGFR levels were directly associated with the risk of lymph node metastasis. A significant relationship between EGFR status and cervical node metastasis was observed. The cutoff value of 20 fmol/mg protein was the best prognostic discriminator. The 5-year metastasis-free survival (MFS) was 66% for patients with EGFR- tumors compared with 15% for patients with EGFR+ tumors. By multivariate analysis, the EGFR status appeared to be a significant independent prognostic factor for MFS. Our results suggest that the assessment of EGFR status at the time of diagnosis may identify a subset of LSCC patients highly susceptible to neck node metastases thus defining therapy accordingly.
Almadori
G
G
Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. iclot@rm.unicat.it
Cadoni
G
G
Galli
J
J
Ferrandina
G
G
Scambia
G
G
Exarchakos
G
G
Paludetti
G
G
Ottaviani
F
F
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis
D066246:ErbB Receptors