Prognostic value of the combination of epidermal growth factor receptor and c-erbB-2 in breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erbB-2 are 2 of the 4 members of the erbB receptor family that play a role in signaling by forming heterodimers between family members.


METHODS
The immunohistochemical expression of EGFR and c-erbB-2 was determined on 670 women who underwent operation for primary breast cancer.


RESULTS
According to the combination of EGFR and c-erbB-2, 670 patients were classified into 4 groups: EGFR(-)/c-erbB-2(-) (417 patients); EGFR(+)/c-erbB-2(-) (136 patients); EGFR(-)/c-erbB-2(+) (72 patients); and EGFR(+)/c-erbB-2(+) (45 patients). Univariate analyses on disease-free and overall survival showed a significant difference among these 4 groups, whereas the difference between patients with positive and negative expression of EGFR was not statistically significant in patients with positive expression of c-erbB-2. A multivariate analysis indicated the combination of EGFR and c-erbB-2 to be an independently significant prognostic factor for disease-free and overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Breast cancer with both a positive EGFR and c-erbB-2 expression had the worst prognosis, whereas the prognostic value of c-erbB-2 was stronger than that of EGFR in breast cancer.
Tsutsui
Shinichi
S
Department of Breast Surgery, Beppu National Hospital, 1473 Oaza-Uchikamado, Beppu 874-0011, Japan.
Ohno
Shinji
S
Murakami
Shigeru
S
Kataoka
Akemi
A
Kinoshita
Junko
J
Hachitanda
Yoichi
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D015996:Survival Rate
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases