EGFR, c-erbB-2 and ki-67 in NSCLC and preneoplastic bronchial lesions.
BACKGROUND
The relationships between EGF-R and c-erbB-2 with other factors involved in tumour regulation are not well understood. The aim of this study was to correlate the expression of these markers with tumour proliferation.


METHODS
The presence of EGF-R, c-erbB-2 and Ki-67 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and preneoplastic lesions.


RESULTS
Forty-two percent of the tumours were positive for EGF-R, 22% for c-erbB-2 and 97% for Ki-67. No statistically significant correlation was found between EGF-R and Ki-67, EGF-R and c-erbB-2 or between c-erbB-2 and Ki-67. With regards to Ki-67, a significant difference in survival was noted in favour of patients who did not express the marker. In preneoplastic lesions, most of the low-grade lesions showed neither EGF-R nor Ki-67 staining. In contrast, most of the high-grade lesions stained positively for these proteins.


CONCLUSIONS
EGF-R and c-erbB-2 do not seem to be correlated with Ki-67 in NSCLC.
Department of Intensive Care and Thoracic Oncology, Institut Jules Bordet, Brussels, Belgium. ap.meert@bordet.be
A P
AP
Meert
B
B
Martin
J M
JM
Verdebout
F
F
Feoli
C
C
Mascaux
V
V
Ninane
J P
JP
Sculier
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001706:Biopsy; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000502:physiology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases