title: Epidermal growth factor receptor copy number in potentially malignant oral disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma: a short communication and preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This preliminary study compared the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) copy number in patients with potentially malignant oral disorders (PMODs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Group 1 comprised 20 patients with oral leukoplakia and group 2 comprised 19 cases of OSCC. We estimated the EGFR copy number in both groups using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. We used laser microdissection (LMD) for EGFR amplification, and overexpression was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The EGFR copy number was higher in group 2 (9.1 ± 6.2) than in group 1 (3.8 ± 1.5). The greatest copy number was found in the non-homogeneous leukoplakias, but the difference in homogeneous cases was not significant (Mann-Whitney test, P>0.05). In group 2, the EGFR copy number was higher in advanced stages than in early stages, but again lacked statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EGFR copy number may be a useful biomolecular marker to differentiate PMODs from OSCC. The EGFR was higher in non-homogeneous leukoplakias and in the advanced stages of OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Head Service Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery, University General Hospital, Valencia University, Valencia, Spain. bagan@uv.es
authors.forename: Jose V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Bagan
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mata-Roig
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cortio-Gimeno
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murillo-Cortes
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hens-Aumente
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poveda-Roda
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagan
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007972:Leukoplakia, Oral / Q000235:genetics*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors