Occurrence of epidermal growth factor receptors in human adnexal tumors and their prognostic value in advanced ovarian carcinomas

Abstract

Ninety-eight different malignant adnexal tumors were analyzed for the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-specific binding sites and binding parameters were calculated by Scatchard plot analysis [G. Scatchard, Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 51, 660–672 (1949)]. Thirty-four biopsies were EGF receptor (EGF-R) positive with dissociation constants ( K D ) of 0.5–12 × 10 −9 M and binding capacities ( B max) of 2–250 fmol/mg. One tumor had a K D of 60 × 10 −9 M and a B max of 1660 fmol/mg. The correlation of EGF-R status with clinical parameters showed no significant differences in primary, metastatic, or recurrent tumors, histological subtype, tumor differentiation, and tumor residual after primary surgery. As an inverse correlation, EGF-R-positive tumors are 39% and EGF-R-negative tumors 60% progesterone receptor positive. A response to chemotherapy was noticed in 50% of EGF-R-positive ovarian carcinomas with a mean survival time of patients of 28 months. The response rate of EGF-R negative ovarian carcinomas was 12% with a mean survival time of 16 months. Regarding the treatment schedule the major differences were noticed in the cis-platinum plus cyclophosphamide treatment group. These results suggest that the biology of ovarian carcinomas is influenced by growth factors and their receptors, which can be used as prognostic factors.