Abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and insulinlike growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) proteins and IGF-1R gene copy numbers in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in relation to patients' characteristics and prognosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue derived from tumor specimens recovered during surgery. Slides were evaluated for membranous EGFR and IGF-1R staining using both the HercepTest and the semiquantitative H-score systems. Chromogenic in situ hybridization was performed to quantify IGF-1R gene copy number. The primary outcome was the association between EGFR expression, IGF-1R expression-in both neoplastic epithelial and stromal cells-or IGF-1R gene copy number and overall survival. Secondary outcomes included associations between EFGR and IGF-1R expression and pathologic variables. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients were included. EGFR expression was present in 30.4% of cases and was associated with lymph node metastasis (P =.038). IGF-1R was overexpressed in 53% of tumors and correlated with higher tumor grade (P =.033). High membranous expression of EGFR (P <.001) and/or IGF-1R (P =.004), the cytoplasmic detection of EGFR (P =.027), and high expression levels of IGF-1R in the tumoral stroma (P <.001) were all associated with shorter overall survival, being significantly better in patients who simultaneously do not express membranous EGFR or stromal IGF-1R. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR and IGF-1R expression, in neoplastic and stromal cells, seems to be an important prognostic factor.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 3484-3493 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Cancer |
Volume | 118 |
Issue number | 14 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 15 2012 |
Keywords
- EGFR
- IGF-1R
- biomarkers
- pancreatic cancer
- prognostic factors
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research