Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas Do Not Express EGFRvIII

• Published in: International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Vol. 90; no. 2; pp. 454 - 462
• Main Authors: Melchers, Lieuwe J., MD, PhD, Clausen, Martijn J.A.M., MSc, Mastik, Mirjam F., BSc, Slagter-Menkema, Lorian, BSc, Langendijk, Johannes A., MD, PhD, van der Laan, Bernard F.A.M., MD, PhD, van der Wal, Jacqueline E., MD, DDS, PhD, van der Vegt, Bert, MD, PhD, Roodenburg, Jan L.N., DDS, PhD, Schuuring, Ed, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; ANIMAL TISSUES; ANTIBODIES; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - metabolism; CARCINOMAS; Cohort Studies; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; ErbB Receptors - analysis; ErbB Receptors - genetics; Female; GLIOMAS; GROWTH FACTORS; HEAD; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation; MUTATIONS; NECK; Neoplasm Proteins - analysis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION; Radiology; RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE; RECEPTORS; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA; RNA - analysis; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; Tissue Array Analysis - methods; TRANSCRIPTION
• ISSN: 0360-3016; 1879-355X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2014.06.035

Purpose To assess the prevalence of EGFRvIII, a specific variant of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), in 3 well-defined cohorts of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods and Materials Immunohistochemistry for the specific detection of EGFRvIII using the L8A4 antibody was optimized on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using glioblastoma tissue. It was compared with EGFR and EGFRvIII RNA expression using a specific reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction also optimized for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Tissue microarrays including 531 HNSCCs of various stages with complete clinicopathologic and follow-up data were tested for the presence of EGFRvIII. Results None of the 531 cases showed EGFRvIII protein expression. Using an immunohistochemistry protocol reported by others revealed cytoplasmic staining in 8% of cases. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction for the EGFRvIII transcript of the 28 highest cytoplasmic staining cases, as well as 69 negative cases, did not show expression in any of the tested cases, suggesting aspecific staining by a nonoptimal protocol. Conclusions The EGFRvIII mutation is not present in HNSCC. Therefore, EGFRvIII does not influence treatment response in HNSCC and is not a usable clinical prognostic marker.