title: Analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status in endometrial stromal sarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESSs) are rare neoplasms, which are currently treated by surgery, whereas effective adjuvant therapies have not yet been established. Recently, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression has been described in ESS, and a potential role of EGFR-targeted adjuvant therapies has been proposed. The aim of this study was to analyze EGFR status in an ESS series and to evaluate their potential role as molecular targets.
  
  
  METHODS
  EGFR status was investigated in a total of ten cases of ESS, which included seven low-grade ESS and three undifferentiated ESS cases. EGFR expression levels were assessed by immunohistochemistry, and gene amplification analysis was performed with dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine out of ten ESS cases showed positive immunostaining, whereas FISH analysis demonstrated constantly negative results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed that EGFR is frequently overexpressed in ESS. FISH analysis did not show EGFR amplification in any of the tumors, therefore EGFR expression in ESS should be related to different genetic mechanisms.
authors: Gynecologic and Obstetric Clinic, University of Sassari, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Capobianco
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Pili
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Contini
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: De Miglio
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Marras
authors: D A
authors: DA
authors: Santeufemia
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Cherchi
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Dessole
authors: P L
authors: PL
authors: Cherchi
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cossu-Rocca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D018203:Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors