Clinical significance of hyperexpression of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR and HER-2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2009 Aug;148(2):241-5. doi: 10.1007/s10517-009-0659-z.

Abstract

Immunohistochemical study of marker expression in primary tumors of patients with esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma was carried out in order to evaluate prognostic significance of EGFR and HER-2 levels in the tumors. Hyperexpression of EGFR and HER-2 in the tumors is an important marker for the analysis of prognosis and clinical course of the disease. A relationship between high levels of EGFR and HER-2 in the tumors of patients with esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma and intravascular tumor invasion (p=0.038) and poor outcome of the disease (p=0.019) was detected. The results indicate that evaluation of changes in the expression of EGFR and HER-2 in tumors is essential for individual prediction of the disease course and development of new approaches to the treatment of these tumors, including target therapy aimed at these tyrosine kinase receptors.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism*
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2