Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 272; no. 2; pp. 401 - 405
• Main Authors: Kontić, Mirko, Milovanović, Jovica, Čolović, Zaviša, Poljak, Nikola Kolja, Šundov, Željko, Sučić, Ante, Pešutić-Pisac, Valdi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.02.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - mortality; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Female; Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Laryngeal Neoplasms - metabolism; Laryngeal Neoplasms - mortality; Laryngeal Neoplasms - pathology; Laryngology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Neurosurgery; Otorhinolaryngology; Prognosis; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Retrospective Studies; Serbia - epidemiology; Serbia; Squamous cell carcinoma; Larynx; Survival; Epidermal growth factor receptor; EGFR
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-014-3323-9

To assess the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) correlation with histopathologic and clinical characteristics of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and the impact of EGFR overexpression on patient survival. This retrospective study included 185 SCC patients treated at Clinical Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, Split University Hospital Center between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2009. A statistically significant correlation ( p  < 0.001) was recorded between the level of EGFR expression and SCC histopathologic grade, stage, metastasizing potential, relapsing potential, and patient survival. Kaplan–Meier survival curve yielded a statistically significant difference ( χ 2  = 75.05; p  < 0.001) among the four patient groups with different levels of EGFR expression. The higher the level of EGFR expression, the poorer is the patient prognosis and survival. In our study, expression of EGFR as a biomarker showed a potential predictive value in laryngeal SCC.