title: EGFR and phosphorylated EGFR in relation to HPV and clinical outcome in tonsillar cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) and the presence of HPV is correlated to a better clinical outcome. To find additional biomarkers that, together with HPV, predict clinical outcome, the aim of the present study was to evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphorylated EGFR (pEGFR) in relation to HPV status and clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 83 pre-treatment TSCC biopsies were analyzed for EGFR and pEGFR Tyr1068 and Tyr1148 by immunohistochemistry, and the obtained data were tested for correlation to tumor HPV status and disease-free survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of pEGFR Tyr1068 and 1148, both correlated significantly to the absence of HPV. However, neither of these, nor total EGFR, correlated significantly to disease-free survival for HPV-positive or HPV-negative TSCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since pEGFR Tyr1068 and 1148 are correlated to absence of HPV but not to clinical outcome, these may not be optimal prognostic markers for clinical outcome in patients with TSCC.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Oncology-Pathology, Head and Neck Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romanitan
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Näsman
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munck-Wikland
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dalianis
authors.forename: Torbjörn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramqvist
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014067:Tonsillar Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors