EGFR and P21ras expression in Egyptian patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background: Despite the advancement in diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma carcinoma, there has been no significant improvement in the survival rate in the last three decades. Many clinico-pathological factors as well as genetic alterations have been implicated in tumor recurrence and poor patient ‘survival.Objective: The present study aims to investigate the expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and P21ras in Egyptian patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to correlate the clinico-pathological data to that of the expression of EGFR and P21ras.Patients and Methods: The present study included 52 patients of whom 30 patients had laryngeal invasive squamous cell carcinoma, 7 patients had laryngeal dysplasia, and 15 patients had benign non-neoplastic laryngeal lesions. Expression of EGFR and P21ras was investigated immunohistochemically in the specimens of all patients using monoclonal mouse antibodies for both EGFR and P21ras.Results: EGFR positive immunostaining was observed in 96.6% of malignant group with varying degrees of expression, Pearson’s Chi-square test showed a highly significant difference between EGFR expressions in the different three groups. As regard P21ras, positive immunostaining was also observed in 100% of malignant group with varying degrees of expression, and Pearson’s Chi-square test showed a highly significant difference between P21ras expression in the three groups.Conclusion: We suggest that both markers can be used to select patients with malignant and premalignant laryngeal lesions who might benefit from drugs targeted to them. However, further studies including larger groups of patients and contributing treatment trials with the new therapeutic agents are recommended for evaluation of their effect.