title: The value of expression of EGFR, telomerase and topoisomerase IIα in malignant effusion smears before and after chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the significance of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), telomerase and topoisomerase IIα (topo IIα) in cells of malignant effusions of patients under chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied the expression of EGFR, telomerase and topo IIα in malignant effusion smears of 95 cancer patients before and after chemotherapy. Immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization techniques were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive expression before chemotherapy of telomerase, topo IIα and EGFR was found in 64.2, 63.2 and 69.5% of the cases, respectively; the expression of these markers following chemotherapy was 43.6, 28.2 and 53.8%, respectively. The stronger prognostic factor affecting survival before chemotherapy was telomerase (p=0.0002), whereas after chemotherapy the strongest factor was EGFR (p<0.0001). A positivity for all three markers following chemotherapy was associated with shorter survival compared with positivity for only 1 or 2 markers (p<0.0001) or with a negative expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that expression of EGFR, telomerase and topo IIα in malignant effusion smears is adversely affecting prognosis and survival.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Athens University, Medical School, Athens, Greece. kkonstan@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koutsionasios
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diab
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Athanasiadou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrakakou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marinos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalyteraki
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Athanasiadou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000032:analysis*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D019098:Telomerase / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019098:Telomerase; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II