Potential Receptors for Targeted Imaging of Lymph Node Metastases in Penile Cancer

Abstract

Imaging modalities using tumor-directed monoclonal antibodies may be of value to improve the pre- and intraoperative detection and resection of lymph node (LN) metastatic disease in penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC). We investigated the expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) to analyze their potency for diagnostic applications. Antigen expression was determined in primary tumors and LNs with and without metastases of 22 patients with PSCC. The total immunostaining score (TIS, 0–12) was determined as the product of a proportion score (PS, 0–4) and an intensity score (IS, 0–3). EGFR and VEGF expression were high in primary tumor (median TIS 8) and LN metastases (median TIS 6 and 8, respectively). No EGFR expression was seen in LNs without metastases. However, LNs without metastases did show VEGF expression (median TIS 6). No EpCAM or PSMA expression was seen in PSCC. This study shows that VEGF and EGFR expression is moderate to high in LN metastases of PSCC. Both VEGF and EGFR warrant further clinical evaluation to determine their value as a target for pre- and intraoperative imaging modalities in the detection of LN metastases in PSCC.

Potential of uPAR, αvβ6 Integrin, and Tissue Factor as Targets for Molecular Imaging of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Evaluation of Nine Targets in Primary Tumors and Metastases by Immunohistochemistry

“…The staining intensity of normal epithelium around the tumor tissue was scored in the same way. The proportion and intensity scores for tumor tissue were multiplied to provide a single combined score and a total immune staining score (TIS), which is similar to previous studies [ 38 , 57 , 58 , 59 ]. This resulted in a score ranging from 0 to 12, which was divided into four final expression categories: 0 = absent; 1–5 = low; 6–8 = intermediate; and 9–12 = high expression.…”

Programmed Death-Ligand 1, C-reactive Protein, and Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio as Lymphangiogenesis Markers of Metastasis in Penile Cancer – A Systematic Review

“…EGFR was not expressed in tumor without metastasis. 27 The expression of Laminin Subunit Gamma 2 (LAMC2) was significantly upregulated at the mRNA and protein level in the penile cancer tissues compared to normal epithelial tissues, and its expression was found to be higher in lymph node metastatic lesions than in primary cancer tissues. NOS, Newcastle-Ottawa scale Green rows signify good-quality studies, yellow rows signify fair quality studies…”