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Year:
2006
| Volume: 14
| Issue: 3-4
| Pages: 110-114
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Original Article |
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PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR IN LOCALIZED BREAST CANCER: 15 YEARS OF FOLLOW-UP
Neskovic-Konstantinovic Z, Kanjer K, Borojevic N, Jezdic S, Gavrilovic D, Nikolic-Vukosavljevic D. |
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DOI:
10.2298/AOO0604110N |
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Abstract: |
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Background: The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in breast cancer (BC) is generally considered as an unfavorable event during tumor progression. Its predictive role has been fairly well defined: EGF-R expression predicts tamoxifen un-responsiveness. EGF-R role in autocrine growth regulation was confirmed. HHowever, reported results on its prognostic role in BC patients were conflicting.The prognostic role of EGF-R after 15 years of follow-up is analyzed in a group of 70 localized BC patients, presented at diagnosis in clinical stages I-III.
Methods: BC patients newly diagnosed from December 1990 until March 1991, treated in accordance to the National Protocol, were selected for EGF-R analysis. Steroid receptors and EGF-R were determined at diagnosis in same frozen tissue samples, using biochemical methods. Except 6 patients who were lost from follow-up in the interval shorter than 60 months, the remaining patients were followed-up from 60-188 months. The total number of events was 32 relapses (46%), and 27 deaths (38.5%).
Results: EGF-R expression was found in 28/70 patients (40%), and the EGF-R content higher than 26 fmol - in 15/70 patients (21%). Neither the expression, nor the high content of EGF-R showed any infuence on disease-free or overall survival. Levels of EGF-R were similar in relapsing and relapse-free patients. Nodal status had the strongest influence on prognosis.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the controversial findings, regarding the EGF-R prognostic role, might be the consequence of a genuine weak influence of EGF-R expression on disease outcome. |
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Key words:
Breast Neoplasms; Prognosis; Receptors, Steroid; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor |
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