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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2005-11-7
pubmed:abstractText
The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is reportedly overexpressed in 15-20% of breast carcinomas. EGFR overexpression is associated with reduced survival and is inversely correlated with expression of estrogen receptor (ER). This study assessed EGFR expression in breast carcinomas with squamous differentiation. The immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of EGFR was evaluated in 39 breast carcinomas with squamous differentiation (30 pure squamous, 6 adenosquamous, 3 carcinosarcomas) by use of the pharmDx assay (clone 2-18C9, DakoCytomation). Cases were considered positive if at least 10% of the cells showed 1+ positivity in the squamous component. Squamous differentiation was confirmed with IHC for CK5-6 (clone D5/16B4, DakoCytomation). ER, PR, and HER2 status as well as clinical information regarding treatment and outcome were correlated. As a control, a tissue microarray comprising 280 lymph node positive breast carcinomas was evaluated with the same EGFR assay. The 39 patients ranged in age from 33 to 77 years (mean 52). The tumors measured 1.3-30 cm (mean 4.8). Sentinel or full axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 28 patients. Fourteen patients had positive lymph nodes. At the time of initial diagnosis, 3 patients had distant metastasis. Follow-up was available for 16 patients (mean 45 months). Disease-free survival at 3 years was 70%. Among the 39 tumors 87% (34) were positive for EGFR (p<0.0001). Sixty-nine percent (27 of 39) showed >50% 2+ EGFR staining. EGFR-positive tumor cells (showing squamous morphology) were also found in 1 bone, 1 lung, and 8 of 11 lymph node metastases available for evaluation. All 11 lymph nodes showed squamous differentiation. All but 1 of the EGFR+ tumors examined were ER and PR negative. Six EGFR-positive tumors were HER2 positive. No statistically significant differences in HER2 status, size, lymph node status and disease-free survival were observed between EGFR+ and EGFR- cases, but the number of EGFR-negative tumors was quite small. Nine of 280 (3%) of lymph node-positive invasive carcinomas on the tissue microarray were EGFR+; review of the initial diagnostic slides failed to reveal squamous features in all but 1 of the 9 EGFR+ tumors. Breast carcinomas with squamous differentiation are a distinct subgroup of breast tumors with a very high frequency of EGFR positivity. Breast carcinomas of this type would be ideal candidates for a trial with EGFR inhibitors.
pubmed:commentsCorrections
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
1066-8969
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
13
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
319-27
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-11-19
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Adult, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Aged, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Bone Neoplasms, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Breast Neoplasms, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Carcinoma, Adenosquamous, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Carcinosarcoma, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Cell Differentiation, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Follow-Up Studies, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Immunohistochemistry, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Keratins, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Lung Neoplasms, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Lymph Nodes, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Lymphatic Metastasis, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Middle Aged, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Neoplasm Staging, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Receptor, erbB-2, pubmed-meshheading:16273187-Receptors, Estrogen
pubmed:year
2005
pubmed:articleTitle
Remarkably high frequency of EGFR expression in breast carcinomas with squamous differentiation.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article