Immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma in relation to proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis

Abstract

ObjectivesSquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is by far the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. A number of etiologic factors have been implicated in its development. During the past few decades, a particular focus has been placed on the investigation of valid biomarkers predictive of cancer behavior and cervical lymph node metastasis in head and neck Squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).The present study was designed to investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor in these tumors in relation to proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.Materials and methodsImmunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in 40 retrospective OSCC specimens and its correlation with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), antiapoptotic antibody (P53), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and D2-40 monoclonal antibodies (Mab), in relation to the clinicopathological parameters.ResultsData revealed positive EGFR immunoreactivity in 35(87.5%) cases. There was a statistically significant correlation regarding EGFR extent score with respect to intratumoral lymphatic vessel density (ILVD) (r = 0.35) as well as EGFR intensity score with respect to ILVD and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density (PLVD) (r = 0.33, r = 0.36 respectively). EGFR expression was not correlated with the clinicopathological parameters. Conclusions: EGFR is expressed by most of the cases. EGFR correlation with D2- 40 positive lymphatic vessels suggests a higher tendency of OSCC for lymphatic dissemination. Lack of correlation among the studied markers suggests their independent effect on tumor behavior.

Expression of EGFR, VEGF, and NOTCH1 Suggest Differences in Tumor Angiogenesis in HPV-Positive and HPV-Negative Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

“…To our knowledge, ours is the first report of the EGFR-VEGF association by HPV status in HNSCC. However, a previous study of oral cancer, which is typically HPVnegative [6], reported no EGFR-VEGF association, but tumors in this study were slightly less likely to be positive for EGFR and VEGF compared with our sample [19]. A study of HPV-positive and HPV-negative tonsil cancer also reported no EGFR-VEGF association in all cases combined [12].…”

“…Only two studies reported on VEGF expression in HNSCC according to tumor HPV status and one study showed an association whereas the other did not [10,17]. Few IHC studies have examined the EGFR-VEGF association in HNSCC, with one study reporting a positive association in a heterogeneous HNSCC case series [18], and two studies showing a null association in tonsil [10] and oral cavity cancer [19]. We are unaware of any studies examining the EGFR-VEGF association by tumor HPV status in HNSCC.…”

Difference in EGFR expression and mean vascular density in normal oral mucosa, oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

“…From this data, it could be inferred that the extent and intensity found for EGFR in carcinomas would be revealing a completely uncontrolled growth of neoplastic epithelial cells 12 and that the extent of EGFR expression is higher as malignancy increases.…”

“…Although Sarkis et al 12 and Laimer et al, 20 consider that both the extent and intensity of EGFR reflect an alteration in the regulation of cell proliferation. The results of this study suggest that the alteration of cell proliferation would be mainly represented by the number of cells affected and not by expression intensity.…”

Expression of EGFR and p53 in Head and Neck Tumors among Sudanese Patients

“…High levels of EGFR protein expression, as detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) have been seen in up to 90% of SCCHN tumors and are associated with poor prognosis (Grandis et al, 1998;Chung et al, 2006). In a study conducted in Iraq by Sarkis et al, (2010) assessed EGFR in head and neck cancers using immunohistochemical method, they reported that EGFR was expressed in (87.5) of head and neck cancers.…”