title: Endometrial stromal sarcomas frequently express epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, HER-1): potential basis for a new therapeutic approach.
abstract: Endometrial stromal sarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal uterine tumors. The expressions of different epidermal growth factor receptors such as EGFR (HER-1), HER-2, HER-3, and HER-4 have not yet been examined in these tumors. Twenty-three cases of endometrial sarcomas consisting of 20 low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas and 3 undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas were examined immunohistochemically for EGFR (HER-1), HER-2, HER-3, and HER-4. EGFR (HER-1) was positive in 17 of 23 (74%) cases. While the three undifferentiated endometrial sarcomas were positive for EGFR, 14 of 20 (70%) low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas showed positive reactions for EGFR. All examined cases were negative for HER-2, HER-3, and HER-4. This study is the first to show common expression of EGFR (HER-1) in endometrial stromal sarcomas. This finding may provide the basis for a new therapeutic strategy using monoclonal antibodies against EGFR (such as cetuximab) or small molecule inhibitors of EGFR (such as gefitinib) in patients with endometrial sarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria. farid.moinfar@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moinfar
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gogg-Kamerer
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommersacher
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Regitnig
authors.forename: Yan Gao
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zatloukal
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Denk
authors.forename: Fattaneh A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Tavassoli
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018203:Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors