title: Frequent EGFR Positivity and Overexpression in High-Grade Areas of Human MPNSTs.
abstract: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNSTs) are highly malignant and resistant. Transformation might implicate up regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Fifty-two MPNST samples were studied for EGFR, Ki-67, p53, and survivin expression by immunohistochemistry and for EGFR amplification by in situ hybridization. Results were correlated with clinical data. EGFR RNA was also quantified by RT-PCR in 20 other MPNSTs and 14 dermal neurofibromas. Half of the patients had a neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). EGFR expression, detected in 86% of MPNSTs, was more frequent in NF1 specimens and closely associated with high-grade and p53-positive areas. MPNSTs expressed more EGFR transcripts than neurofibromas. No amplification of EGFR locus was observed. NF1 status was the only prognostic factor in multivariate analysis, with median survivals of 18 and 43 months for patients with or without NF1. Finally, EGFR might become a new target for MPNSTs treatment, especially in NF1-associated MPNSTs.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U602, Hôpital Paul Brousse, 12 Avenue P. Vaillant Couturier, 94800 Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabone-Eglinger
authors.forename: Radislav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahleda
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Terrier
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vidaud
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cayre
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beauchet
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Théou-Anton
authors.forename: Marie-José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Terrier-Lacombe
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lemoine
authors.forename: Frédérique
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Penault-Llorca
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Le Cesne
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Emile