title: Epidermal growth factor receptor is related to poor survival in glioblastomas: single-institution experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are conflicting results surrounding the prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status in glioblastoma (GBM) patients. Accordingly, we attempted to assess the influence of EGFR expression on the survival of GBM patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty three GBM patients who had received surgery and postoperative radiotherapy at our institute, between March 1997 and February 2006, were included. The evaluation of EGFR expression with immunohistochemistry was available for 30 patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGFR was expressed in 23 patients (76.7%), and not expressed in seven (23.3%). Survival in EGFR expressing GBM patients was significantly less than that in non-expressing patients (median survival: 12.5 versus 17.5 months, p=0.013). Patients who received more than 60 Gy showed improved survival over those who received up to 60 Gy (median survival: 17.0 versus 9.0 months, p=0.000). Negative EGFR expression and a higher radiation dose were significantly correlated with improved survival on multivariate analysis. Survival rates showed no differences according to age, sex, and surgical extent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of EGFR demonstrated a significantly deleterious effect on the survival of GBM patients. Therefore, approaches targeting EGFR should be considered in potential treatment methods for GBM patients, in addition to current management strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Dong-A University School of Medicine, Seo-gu, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Youngmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hyung-Sik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won-Joo
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Ki-Han
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Ki-Uk
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sun-Seob
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Su-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae-Cheol
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011878:Radiotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors