Korean J Urol.  2008 Nov;49(11):974-980. 10.4111/kju.2008.49.11.974.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor as Predicting Factor on Biochemical Recurrence after Radical Prostatectomy: A Prospective Study

• Lee JW
• Cho KS
• Han KS
• Kim EK
• Joung JY
• Seo HK
• Chung J
• Park WS
• Lee KH

• KMID: 1328167
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2008.49.11.974

Abstract

PURPOSE: We investigated epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) expression in prostate cancer(PCa) and their potential role as predicting factor on biochemical recurrence(BCR).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between February 2005 and February 2007, EGFR expression were prospectively evaluated in a consecutive series of 88 PCa patients with the following characteristics: 66 patients treated with retropubic radical prostatectomy(RRP); 22 patients treated with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy followed by RRP. The relationship between EGFR expression and several clinicopathologic parameters were evaluated. The probability of BCR-free survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method.
RESULTS
EGFR expression, was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, was found in 31 of 88(35.2%) patients. 8 of 31 EGFR-positive patients(25.8%) had BCR, whereas only 5 of 57 EGFR-negative patients(8.8%) had BCR (p=0.031) during a median follow-up of 21 months. Among several variables, high serum prostate-specific antigen values(>or=20), extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and EGFR expression were the significant predictors of BCR on univariate analysis. But, multivariate analysis showed that no variable was significant predictor of BCR. EGFR-negative patients had a significantly longer mean BCR-free survival time than EGFR-positive patients(p=0.027).
CONCLUSIONS
EGFR expression could be an potential predicting factor on BCR following RRP.

Keyword

Epidermal growth factor receptor; Prostate cancer; Biochemical recurrence

Figure

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  Fig. 1. H&E and immunohistochemical evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in prostate cancer. (A) EGFR-positive tumor (blackish stained) (x200), (B) EGFR-negative tumor (x200).

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  Fig. 2. Kaplan-Meier method estimates of likelihood of remaining free of biochemical recurrence as related to epidermal growth factor receptor expression (log rank, p=0.027). BCR: biochemical recurrence, EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor.

Reference

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