title: Epidermal growth factor receptor expression is associated with poor outcome in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most frequent cancer in humans after basal cell carcinoma, and its incidence is dramatically rising. CSCC is rarely problematic, but given its high frequency, the absolute number of complicated cases is also high. It is necessary to identify molecular markers in order to recognize those CSCCs with poor prognosis. There is controversy concerning the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a marker of prognosis in CSCC. In addition, EGFR-targeted therapies have emerged in recent years and a better understanding of the role of EGFR in CSCC may be of help for some patients in predicting prognosis and guiding curative management.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of EGFR as a prognostic factor in CSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated clinical and histopathological features, including events of poor clinical evolution, in a series of 94 cases of CSCC. We also analysed EGFR expression by immunohistochemistry, fluorescent in situ hybridization and quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We detected EGFR in 85 cases (90%), with overexpression in 33 cases (35%), and aberrant EGFR expression in the cytoplasm in 50 cases (53%). EGFR overexpression in the primary tumours was associated with lymph node progression, tumour-nodes-metastasis stage progression and proliferation (Ki-67 staining) in CSCC. EGFR overexpression and poor grade of differentiation were the strongest independent variables defining lymph node metastasis and progression in CSCC in a logistic regression model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrate that EGFR overexpression has prognostic implications associated with lymph node metastasis and progression in CSCC.
authors: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Cañueto
authors: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Virgen de la Concha, Avenida de Requejo, Zamora, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Cardeñoso
authors: Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, s/n. 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: García
authors: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: Á
authors: Á
authors: Santos-Briz
authors: Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, s/n. 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Castellanos-Martín
authors: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Fernández-López
authors: Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, s/n. 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Blanco Gómez
authors: Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (IBMCC), Universidad de Salamanca/CSIC, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, s/n. 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Pérez-Losada
authors: Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Paseo de San Vicente, 58-182, 37007, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Román-Curto
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors