This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Galizia, G. Articles by Ciardiello, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Galizia, G. Articles by Ciardiello, F.

Prognostic Significance of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Colon Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Surgery

¹ Division of Surgical Oncology, "F. Magrassi and A. Lanzara" Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, c/o II Policlinico, Edificio 17, Via Pansini, 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
² Division of Pathology, "F. Magrassi and A. Lanzara" Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, 80131 Naples, Italy
³ Division of Medical Oncology, "F. Magrassi and A. Lanzara" Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples School of Medicine, 80131 Naples, Italy

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Gennaro Galizia, MD; E-mail: gennaro.galiza{at}unina2.it.

Background: To investigate the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression as a prognostic marker for prediction of cancer behavior and clinical outcomes in colon cancer patients undergoing potentially curative surgery.

Methods: EGFR determination using a commercially available immunohistochemistry kit was performed in tissues from 149 colon cancer patients receiving primary surgical treatment and in 25 normal colon mucosa specimens from noncancer patients. EGFR positivity was correlated in univariate and multivariate analyses with disease recurrence and survival. In addition, p27, p53, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 104 patients and correlated with EGFR tumor expression and clinical outcome.

Results: EGFR expression was detected in approximately one third of colon cancer patients (53 of 149; 35.6%). In 126 curatively treated patients, EGFR expression was correlated with disease recurrence and worse survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. In a multivariate model for predicting recurrence and survival, Dukes’ staging, p27, and EGFR expression were the only independent covariates. In particular, in Dukes’ A and B patients the 5-year survival probability was 96% for EGFR-negative and high p27 expression cases and was 30.7% for EGFR-positive and low p27 expression cases.

Conclusions: EGFR expression was an independent prognostic indicator of disease recurrence and poor survival in colon cancer patients undergoing curative surgery. In the context of novel therapeutic options such as molecularly targeted therapies, these findings suggest that anti-EGFR drugs could be evaluated in the adjuvant treatment of EGFR-positive colon cancer patients.

Key Words: Epidermal growth factor receptor • p27 protein • Colon cancer • Adjuvant chemotherapy • Targeted therapy

This article has been cited by other articles:

				I. Zlobec, L. M. Terracciano, and A. Lugli Local Recurrence in Mismatch Repair-Proficient Colon Cancer Predicted by an Infiltrative Tumor Border and Lack of CD8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Clin. Cancer Res., June 15, 2008; 14(12): 3792 - 3797. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Zlobec and A Lugli Prognostic and predictive factors in colorectal cancer J. Clin. Pathol., May 1, 2008; 61(5): 561 - 569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Lieto, F. Ferraraccio, M. Orditura, P. Castellano, A. La Mura, M. Pinto, A. Zamboli, F. DeVita, and G. Galizia Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is an Independent Prognostic Indicator of Worse Outcome in Gastric Cancer Patients Ann. Surg. Oncol., January 1, 2008; 15(1): 69 - 79. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-W. D. Tzeng, A. Frolov, N. Frolova, N. C. Jhala, J. H. Howard, S. M. Vickers, D. J. Buchsbaum, M. J. Heslin, and J. P. Arnoletti Pancreatic Cancer Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Intron 1 Polymorphism Influences Postoperative Patient Survival and in vitro Erlotinib Response Ann. Surg. Oncol., July 1, 2007; 14(7): 2150 - 2158. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Ferrara, N. Palombi, and A. Di Blasi Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Prognosis in Colon Cancer: A Crack in the Wall? Ann. Surg. Oncol., July 1, 2007; 14(7): 2169 - 2170. [Full Text] [PDF]