EGFR expression in gallbladder carcinoma in North America.
Int J Med Sci
; 5(5): 285-91, 2008 Sep 22.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18825277
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Increased epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF receptor) expression has been noted in various cancers and has become a useful target for therapeutic interventions. Small studies from Asia and Australia have demonstrated EGFR over-expression in gallbladder cancer. We sought to evaluate the expression of EGFR in a series of 16 gallbladder cancer patients from North America.METHODS:
Using tumor registry data, we identified 16 patients diagnosed with gall bladder carcinoma at our medical center between the years of 1998 and 2005. We performed a retrospective review of these patients' charts, obtained cell blocks from pathology archives and stained for EGFR and Her2/neu.RESULTS:
Fifteen of sixteen patients were noted to over-express EGFR. Three were determined 1+, nine were 2+ and three were 3+. Eight patients had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, six had moderately differentiated and two had well-differentiated tumors. In this small series, there was a trend toward shorter survival and more poorly differentiated tumors in patients with greater intensity of EGFR expression. One patient was EGFR negative but 3+ for erb-2/Her 2-neu expression. No patient co-expressed EGFR and Her-2-neu. Median survival of patients in this series was 17 months.CONCLUSION:
In view of our observations confirming the over-expression of EGFR in our patient population in North America, and the recent success of EGFR targeted therapies in other solid tumors that over-express EGFR, it may now be appropriate to evaluate agents targeting this pathway either as single agents or in combination with standard chemotherapy.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Adenocarcinoma
/
Receptores ErbB
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Neoplasias da Vesícula Biliar
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
País como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2008
Tipo de documento:
Article