The relationship between epidermal growth factor receptor mRNA expression and the efficacy of 131I treatment in hyperthyroidism patients

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA expression and the efficacy of 131I treatment in hyperthyroidism patients. Methods Fine needle biopsies of 59[the male to female ratio was 16∶43; mean age was (46.46±12.95) years old] Graves disease patients and 27[the male to female ratio was 6∶21; mean age was (44.66±10.86) years old] normal volunteers were collected. The mRNA expression of EGFR was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction before treatment. T-test, analysis of variance and multivariate logistic regression analysis were applied to analyze the relationship between EGFR mRNA expression and the efficacy of 131I treatment. Results Compared with normal group, the mRNA expression level of EGFR was significantly higher in Graves disease patients (1.752±0.660 vs. 0.859±0.125, t=4.328, P<0.001) . Six months after 131I treatment, except 8 cases were lost in following up, all of the remain 51 eligible evaluated patients were relieived from hyperthyroidism. Among them, 80.4% of patients was cured, 39.2% (20/51) became hypothyroid, 41.2% (21/51) became euthyroid, and 19.6% (10/51) remained hyperthyroid. The EGFR mRNA expression was significantly higher in uncured group than in cured group (8.092±3.887 vs. 1.383±0.160, t=7.647, P<0.001) . The EGFR mRNA expression was significantly higher in uncured group (8.092±3.887) than in euthyroid (1.487±0.479) or hypothyroid group (0.968±0.180) (t=7.364 and 8.027, P<0.001) . Multiple logistic regression revealed that the radioiodine dosage (OR=3.456) , thyroid weight (OR=3.853) and EGFR mRNA expression (OR=1.423) was related to the efficacy of 131I treatment. Conclusion EGFR mRNA expression may be used in evaluating the prognosis of hyperthyroidism patients after 131I treatment. Key words: Hyperthyroidism; Iodine radioisotopes; Receptor, epidermal growth factor; Prognosis