Aberrant EGFR and chromosome 7 associate with outcome in laryngeal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) over-expression has been reported as a prognostic indicator in laryngeal cancer; however, the association with disease outcome has been inconsistent among studies. Here, we use fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in addition to immunohistochemistry to assess laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to determine whether FISH can better predict patient outcome.


METHODS
Retrospective study on 59 patients presenting with advanced disease.


METHODS
EGFR and chromosome 7 genomic statuses were measured using FISH, and EGFR expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens and correlated with outcome in the 59 patients.


RESULTS
EGFR expression was marginally associated with outcome, whereas both EGFR and chromosome 7 FISH status were significantly associated with outcome, and the combination of EGFR and chromosome 7 FISH status provided the strongest association of any two combined parameters (P = .0004). Combining EGFR expression with EGFR and chromosome 7 FISH status provided further improvement (P > .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Measurements of EGFR and chromosome 7 FISH status, and to a lesser extent EGFR expression, have potential value in treatment planning for patients with laryngeal SCC.
Morrison
Larry E
LE
Vysis, Inc., Research and Development, Downers Grove, Illinois 60515, USA. larry.morrison@abbott.com
Jacobson
Kristine K
KK
Friedman
Michael
M
Schroeder
James W
JW
Coon
John S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018773:Genes, erbB-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate