Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Serous Ovarian Carcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study With Galectin-3 and Cyclin D1 and Outcome

Abstract

This study investigated the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), galectin-3 and cyclin D1 in a cohort of ovarian serous carcinomas with regard to outcome and clinicopathologic parameters. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival tissues of fifty ovarian serous carcinomas were stained with anti-bodies to EGFR, Gal-3, and cyclin D1 by automated immunohistochemistry. Additionally, 10 benign serous cystadenomas and 10 typical serous borderline ovarian tumors were included in the study. Immunostaining was scored with regard to quantity and intensity of positively stained nuclei. Staining patterns were recorded. The EGFR expression was scored negative in all serous cystadenomas and serous borderline ovarian tumors. Membranous and cytoplasmic EGFR immunoreactivity was determined in 64% of ovarian serous carcinomas; it was related to high grade (P=0.0005) and poor outcome (P=0.0137) but not with stage (P=0.5118). Galectin-3 and cyclin D1 immunostaining decreased from serous cystadenomas and serous borderline ovarian tumors to the carcinomas significantly (P=0.0022 and P=0.0083, respectively). Galectin-3 immunostaining of any pattern (nuclear and cytoplasmic as well as merely cytoplasmic taken together) was not related to grade or stage in cancers; mere cytoplasmic expression was associated with poor outcome (P=0.0097). Cyclin D1 immunoreactivity in predominantly nuclear pattern was increased in low-grade carcinomas (P=0.0378) but was not related to stage and outcome (P=0.6578 and P=0.0675, respectively). This study indicates that with regard to EGFR and cytoplasmic galectin-3 immunoexpression, multiple marker testing may be an adjunct in the identification of high-risk ovarian serous cancers.

Overexpression of Galectin-3 and its clinical significance in ovarian carcinoma

“…These findings suggest that Gal-3 expression can be a prognostic factor for PFS and may play a role in regulating the response to paclitaxel-based chemotherapy in the treatment of EOC. Our results on the association between high Gal-3 expression and poor survival in EOCs are in agreement with a previous study [17]. Brustmann reported that Gal-3 immunostaining of any pattern (nuclear and cytoplasmic as well as only cytoplasmic) was not related to grade or stage in cancers; only cytoplasmic expression was associated with poor outcome [17].…”

“…One study reported Gal-3 downregulation in EOC compared to normal tissue and no correlation between expression and clinicopathological features [16]. Another report suggested that cytoplasmic staining was associated with poorer outcome compared to nuclear staining [17]. The functional significance of Gal-3 overexpression in EOC is not yet known.…”

The expressions and clinical significances of tissue and serum galectin-3 in pancreatic carcinoma

“…In digestive system, higher levels of galectin-3 were reported in colon (Arfaoui-Toumi et al 2010), stomach (Okada et al 2006) and liver cancer (Matsuda et al 2008). Galectin-3 has also been detected overexpressed in other tumors (Chiu et al 2010;Szöke et al 2007;Righi et al 2010;Sakaki et al 2010;Abdou et al 2010;Koo and Jung 2011;Choi et al 2010;SaVar et al 2011;Brustmann 2008;Canesin et al 2010). The mechanisms by which galectin-3 brings into its eVects largely remain unknown.…”

Modest effect of p53, EGFR and HER-2/neu on prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis

“…For EGFR, 15 studies in 2471 patients were included in the metaanalysis (Supplementary Table 4; median study size 106 patients, range 40 -783; Kaufmann et al, 1995;Scambia et al, 1995;Bartlett et al, 1996;Fischer-Colbrie et al, 1997;Skirnisdottir et al, 2001b;Elie et al, 2004;Nielsen et al, 2004;Psyrri et al, 2005;Raspollini et al, 2005;Schilder et al, 2005;Wang et al, 2005;Castellvi et al, 2006;Lassus et al, 2006;Brustmann, 2008;de Graeff et al, 2008). Again, all studies were classified as phase II biomarker studies.…”