Epidermal growth factor receptor in undifferentiated carcinoma of the nasopharynx.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the expression levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its prognostic value in undifferentiated carcinoma (UC) of the nasopharynx.


METHODS
A prospective study of 75 patients diagnosed with UC over a 4-year period in a tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
Postnasal space biopsies were obtained and processed, and immunohistochemical staining was performed. The over-expression of EGFR was measured, and the expression levels were statistically analyzed with the clinical and pathologic variables. Disease-free and overall survival analyses were performed.


RESULTS
There were 62 (82.7%) specimens that showed over-expression of EGFR levels. Over-expression of EGFR correlated significantly only with primary tumor size (P =.007). Age, sex, positive smoking and family history, presence of nodal metastasis, distant metastasis, and Epstein-Barr virus serology titers were not significantly correlated with over-expression of EGFR. Both 54-month disease-free and 56-month overall survivals were not associated with EGFR over-expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of over-expression of EGFR in UC is similar to other squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck region. Only primary tumor size is independently correlated with over-expression of EGFR. EGFR over-expression does not affect disease-free and overall survival.
Leong
Jern-Lin
JL
Department of Otolaryngology, National University Hospital, Head and Neck Tumor Group, The Cancer Institute, Republic of Singapore.
Loh
Kwok Seng
KS
Putti
Thomas Choudhary
TC
Goh
Boon Cher
BC
Tan
Luke Kim Siang
LK
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis
D066246:ErbB Receptors