Objective: To investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in gestational trophoblastic tumours and its clinical significance.
Methods: Placentas of 10 normal early pregnancies, 20 molar pregnancies, 10 samples from invasive mole and 8 samples of choriocarcinoma were used for the study. EGFR expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody.
Results: EGFR was expressed both in normal chorionic villi and tissues of trophoblastic tumours. EGFR was expressed more strongly in normal chorionic villi and non-malignant transformed hydatidiform mole than in malignant transformed molar pregnancies and malignant trophoblastic tumours (P < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that EGFR immunostaining intensity was significantly related to the clinical stage in malignant trophoblastic tumours (P = 0.026, OR = 9.874).
Conclusion: EGFR expression could be used as an index for prediction of malignant transformation of hydatidiform mole and staging of malignant trophoblastic tumours.