[EGF-R expression correlation between biopsy and surgical specimens of lung carcinoma].
BACKGROUND
Most of the time, biological parameters are evaluated on tissues obtained on surgical samples of the primary tumour. New approaches in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment consist to administer neoadjuvant chemotherapy or anti-EGF-R (epidermal growth factor receptor) drug.


METHODS
We assessed the expression of EGF-R by immunohistochemistry on biopsy samples and on the paired resected tumours in 27 patients.


RESULTS
The mean percentage of EGF-R positive neoplastic cells was 11% in surgical specimens compared to 28% in biopsy specimens (p=0.02) although a good correlation (R=0.67; p=0.0001) between biopsies and surgical specimens was observed. Furthermore, the positivity (cut-off > 1% cells) rate was not statistically different between biopsies (55%) and tumours (48%) (p=0.63). In term of positivity rate, we found 85% concordant results between biopsies and resected tumours, 4% false negative and 11% false positive on biopsies in comparison with the resected tumours. The positive and negative predictive value of the biopsies were respectively 80% and 92%.


CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation of EGF-R by immunohistochemistry on biopsies may provide reliable information about non small cell lung cancer EGF-R status.
Meert
A-P
AP
FNRS (Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique), Institut Jules Boerdet, Bruxelles, Belgique. ap.meert@bordet.be
Martin
B
B
Verdebout
J-M
JM
Paesmans
M
M
Lothaire
P
P
Bosschaerts
T
T
Ninane
V
V
Sculier
J-P
JP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D066246:ErbB Receptors