[Correlations of c-erb-B2, EGFR, and TGF-alpha expression to recurrence of Dukes'A and B colorectal carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
Currently, pathologic stage is the main prognostic indicator of colorectal carcinoma, but the current staging system is insufficient to predict the risk of recurrence or the need for adjuvant treatment for the patients with Dukes'A and B disease. Biologic prognostic markers may supplement the staging system and provide a basis for the decision of therapeutic strategies according to individual tumor biology. This study was to investigate the correlations of c-erbB-2, epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) expression to recurrence of Dukes'A and B colorectal carcinoma.


METHODS
The expression of c-erbB-2, EGFR and TGF-alpha in 26 specimens of Dukes'A and 62 specimens of Dukes'B colorectal adenocarcinoma was detected by SP immunohistochemistry. Of the 88 patients underwent curative resection between 1989 and 1999, 44 had recurrence, and 44 had not. The patients were followed up for at least 5 years or till recurrence. The tumor location, Dukes staging, age, sex, and depth of bowel wall invasion matched as closely as possible between the 2 groups.


RESULTS
The overexpression rate of c-erbB-2 was higher in recurrence group than in non-recurrence group (43.2% vs. 25.0%, P=0.072); the overexpression rates of EGFR and TGF-alpha were significantly higher in recurrence group than in non-recurrence group (63.6% vs. 27.3%, P=0.001; 65.9% vs. 43.2%, P=0.032). The co-overexpression rate of EGFR and TGF was significantly higher in recurrence group than in non-recurrence group (36.4% vs. 11.4%, P=0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that the overexpression of EGFR was associated with postoperative recurrence of colorectal carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of EGFR may be associated with postoperative recurrence of Dukes'A and B colorectal carcinoma.
Liang
Jun-Lin
JL
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China.
Wan
De-Sen
DS
Pan
Zhi-Zhong
ZZ
Zhou
Zhi-Wei
ZW
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C512478:EGFR protein, human