Abstract
Background: Human epidermal growth factors receptors such as EGFR and HER2 play an important role in tumorigenesis and are used as therapeutic targets. Their role in aggressive primary ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is controversial. Aim: To study the expression of EGFR and HER2 in ovarian HGSC, to correlate their expression with other clinicopathological parameters and to study their prognostic value. Methods: Imunohistochemical staining of EGFR, HER2 and Ki-67 was done for 54 ovarian HGSC specimens. According to the used scoring methods, the expression of EGFR and HER2 was classified as high or low. Results: High expression of EGFR and HER2 was found in a minority of specimens; 39% and 15%, respectively. None of the studied clinicopathological parameters correlated significantly with the expression of EGFR and HER2, except for the carcinoembryonic antigen level which correlated positively with HER2 expression. Disease-free survival of patients did not differ significantly according to the level of expression of EGFR and HER2 (p =0.684 and 0.186, respectively). Similarly, overall survival did not differ significantly (p =0.911 and 0.346, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the prognostic value of EGFR and HER2 in ovarian HGSC is questionable.
Highlights
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most frequent cancer and the fifth cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide
The only variable that associated significantly with Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression was the administration of neoadjuvant therapy
Expression of EGFR was significantly higher among patients who did not receive neoadjuvant treatment
Summary
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most frequent cancer and the fifth cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Serous carcinoma is the most common and the most aggressive type of epithelial ovarian cancer 2. Human epidermal growth factors receptors such as EGFR and HER2 play an important role in tumorigenesis and are used as therapeutic targets. Their role in aggressive primary ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) is controversial. Aim: To study the expression of EGFR and HER2 in ovarian HGSC, to correlate their expression with other clinicopathological parameters and to study their prognostic value. Results: High expression of EGFR and HER2 was found in a minority of specimens; 39% and 15%, respectively. Disease-free survival of patients did not differ significantly according to the level of expression of EGFR and HER2 (p =0.684 and 0.186, respectively). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the prognostic value of EGFR and HER2 in ovarian HGSC is questionable
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