Epidermal growth factor receptor gene numerical aberrations are frequent events in actinic keratoses and invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene amplification and protein overexpression are common in several cancers. EGFR status has seldom been studied in cutaneous squamous carcinomas (SCCs), or their precursors, actinic keratoses (AKs). We evaluated the presence of EGFR genomic aberrations and EGFR protein overexpression in 25 AKs and 35 invasive SCCs by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry. EGFR numerical aberrations were detected in 52% of AKs and 77.1% of SCCs (P = 0.042). EGFR amplification was identified in 12% of AKs and 20% of SCCs. No differences regarding EGFR numerical aberrations were observed when AKs with high-grade dysplasia were compared with SCCs. A good correlation was observed between EGFR numerical aberrations and EGFR overexpression. Our results suggest that EGFR numerical aberrations occur in the early stages of epithelial carcinogenesis in skin, not playing a role in the progression from low-grade SCCs into more aggressive phenotypes.
Agustí
A
Toll
Rocío
R
Salgado
Mireia
M
Yébenes
Gemma
G
Martín-Ezquerra
Montserrat
M
Gilaberte
Teresa
T
Baró
Francesc
F
Solé
Francisco
F
Alameda
Blanca
B
Espinet
Ramon Maria
RM
Pujol
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D018628:Gene Dosage; D018773:Genes, erbB-1; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D055623:Keratosis, Actinic / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors