title: EGFR expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Relationship to tumour morphology and cell adhesion proteins.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to study epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) by immunohistochemistry and their relationship to clinicopathological features, cell proliferation and cell adhesion protein expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 99 PDACs were analysed on tissue microarrays for EGFR, E-cadherin and β-catenin expression patterns in tumour cells. The percentage of cells expressing the three proteins (membrane, cytoplasm or nuclear pattern) and of Ki67-positive tumour cells was assessed. Tumour protein expression was studied with regard to clinicomorphological features, Ki67 index and for postsurgical survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Membrane tumour EGFR correlated with histological poor differentiation (dedifferentiation), increased number of mitoses and severe tumour cell atypia (pleiomorphism) as well as with aberrant adhesion protein expression such as nuclear β-catenin and cytoplasmic E-cadherin. Cytoplasmic tumour E-cadherin correlated with an increased Ki67-positive tumour cell component, whereas nuclear E-cadherin correlated with a shorter postsurgical overall survival, as well as with tumour necrosis and an abundant clear cell component.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the results of our study suggest a complex role for EGFR in PDAC carcinogenesis, tumour expression of this protein being associated with tumour dedifferentiation, mitotic activity or pleiomorphism, as well as with aberrant tumour cell adhesion protein expression.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Anatomie pathologique, APHP Hôpital Avicenne, , Bobigny, France.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Handra-Luca
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hammel
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sauvanet
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lesty
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruszniewski
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Couvelard
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D051176:beta Catenin; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors
keywords: Carcinoma; Immunohistochemistry; Pancreas