title: Epidermal growth-factor receptors and erbb2 protein expression in esophageal cancer and normal mucosa.
abstract: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and the erbB2 protein (p185) concentrations were assessed in 31 esophageal cancer specimens and in the corresponding normal mucosa, in order to investigate the possible links with the main clinical and pathological parameters. Detectable and high affinity EGFr was found in 27/31 cancer and in 18/31 normal tissue samples. EGFr concentrations were not significantly different between cancer and normal tissue, although a trend toward higher levels in cancer was found. No relationships were found with histologic type, tumor bulk, lymph node status, pathologic stage, ploidy and type of surgical resection. A significant negative correlation between EGFr levels and overall survival was found. Detectable levels of p185 were found in all the tissues examined, but the expression was higher in adenocarcinoma than in squamous cell carcinoma samples. The EGFr role in malignant transformation still has to be established, but the determination could be of clinical use. As for p185, its role in the onset of esophageal cancer could be confined to the subgroup of the adenocarcinomas.
authors: GEN HOSP,CTR STUDY BIOL MARKERS MALIGNANCY,I-30122 VENICE,ITALY. UNIV PADUA,DEPT GEN SURG 2,I-35100 PADUA,ITALY. UNIV MILAN,DEPT GEN SURG & SURG ONCOL,I-20100 MILAN,ITALY. UNIV PADUA,INST ONCOL,IST,BIOTECNOL SECT,I-35100 PADUA,ITALY.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Dittadi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ruol
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gion
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Segalin
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Panozzo
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Brazzale
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Meo
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Ancona
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Peracchia