Expression of EGFR in human lung cancer tissues.

Abstract

To determine the expression of EGFR of lung cancer tissues and its clinical significance. The expression of EGFR was detected in 95 primary lung cancer tissues and their para-cancerous lung tissues and 39 benign pulmonary lesion tissues as control by immunohistochemical method. The positive rate of EGFR expression was 87. 9 %(80/ 91) in non2small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and 10. 3 %(4/ 39) in benign pulmonary tissues , but was 0 % in 4 small cell lung cancer. The positive rate was 63. 7 %(58/ 91) in the para-cancerous tissues from 0 to 3. 0 cm outside the tumors ,12. 1 %(11/ 91) from 3. 0 to 6. 0cm outside the tumors. The positive rate of EGFR expression in lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in benign pulmonary tissues. Determinatation of EGFR expression might be useful to differentiate malignant from benign lesion of the lung.