title: Combined overexpression of EGFR and estrogen receptor alpha correlates with a poor outcome in lung cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the present study was to determine the prognostic significance of the combined overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and estrogen receptor a (ER-alpha) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  An immunohistochemical assessment of EGFR and ER-alpha expression was carried out in tumor specimens from 122 consecutive NSCLC patients after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 122 tumors examined, 57 (46.7%) overexpressed EGFR, 63 (51.6%) overexpressed ER-alpha, while 33 (27%) overexpressed both EGFR and ER-alpha. Univariate analyses showed that the overexpression of EGFR or ER-alpha correlated with the histological grade (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively) and a poorer prognosis (p = 0.007), while overexpression of ER-alpha also correlated with smoking (p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis showed the combined overexpression of EGFR and ER-alpha to be an independent indicator of poorer prognosis (p = 0.0006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combined overexpression of EGFR and ER-alpha in NCLSC patients is predictive of poor outcome and, thus, represents a valuable prognostic factor.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Hondo Akita 010-8543, Japan. hkawai@doc.med.akita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Kiyotada
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Washiya
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kon
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamaya
authors.forename: Iwao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors