Prognostic utility of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is potential prognostic biomarker expressed in many human cancers. Prognostic significance of EGFR immunohistochemical expression has not been established in prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma, therefore we aimed to evaluate the frequency of expression of EGFR in prostatic adenocarcinoma and its association with other prognostic parameters. Methods: The study included 123 cases of biopsy proven prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma treated at Liaquat National hospital, Karachi from January 2013 till December 2017. Paraffin blocks of all cases were retrieved; sections were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Pathologic characteristics including tumor quantification, WHO grade group, gleason score, perineural and lymphovascular invasion were evaluated. EGFR immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on all tissue blocks. Results: Mean age of the patients included in the study was 69.05 ± 8.68 years. High gleason scores i.e. 8 & 9 were noted in 22% (27 cases) and 22.8% (28 cases) respectively. Similarly, 22.8% (28 cases) showed WHO grade group 5. 52.8% (65 cases) had > 50% tissue involvement by carcinoma and perineural invasion was seen in 37.4% (46 cases). Positive EGFR expression was noted in 18.7% (23 cases), while 81.3% (100 cases) showed negative EGFR expression. Significant association of EGFR expression was noted with gleason score (p-value = < 0.001), WHO grade (p = < 0.001), tumor quantification (p = 0.007) and perineural invasion (p = < 0.001). Moreover, significant association of EGFR expression was also seen with disease recurrence and Her2neu over expression. Patients with low gleason scores (score 6 and 7) and lower grade group (1, 2 & 3) were less likely to have positive EGFR expression as compared to patients with high gleason score (score 9) and higher grade group (5). Similarly, patients with perineural invasion were more likely to have positive EGFR expression. Conclusion: We found a relatively low EGFR expression in our patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma; however, its association with poor prognostic parameters like high gleason score, higher grade group, perineural invasion, higher tissue involvement by cancer and disease recurrence signifies its importance as a prognostic parameter in prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma.

KRAS, BRAF, PIK3CA mutation frequency of radical prostatectomy samples and review of the literature

“…Even more, castration leads to an increase in EGFR expression [96]. Supporting this crosstalk between AR and EGFR, several studies have found a significant relationship between EGFR expression and PCa progression [96][97][98][99][100][101][102]. In this study, no correlation was found in this direction.…”

AXL cooperates with EGFR to mediate neutrophil elastase-induced migration of prostate cancer cells

“…Aberrant EGFR expression was frequently detected in prostate cancer tissues associated with high-grade advanced stages ( Schlomm et al., 2007 ; Hashmi et al., 2019 ), suggesting EGFR may play a mechanistic role in the progression of prostate cancer. Therefore, EGFR-targeted therapy can be a potential treatment option.…”

“…The importance of EGFR signaling has been implicated in normal prostate growth and neoplastic development (Kambhampati et al, 2005). Histological examination of EGFR expression in prostatic cancer tissues revealed that EGFR was overexpressed in 18-30% of adenocarcinoma and significantly associated with high Gleason score, high serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and worse outcomes (Di Lorenzo et al, 2002;Schlomm et al, 2007;De Muga et al, 2010;Hashmi et al, 2019), implicating its role as a prognostic biomarker in prostate cancer.…”

International Society of Urologic Pathology (ISUP) Grade Grouping in Prostatic Adenocarcinoma and Its&nbsp;Prognostic Implications

“…Histologic parameters that predict prognosis include gleason score, tumor volume (tumor quanti cation), extra-prostatic soft tissue/fat involvement, seminal vesicle invasion, perineural and lympho-vascular invasion [3]. Besides these well-de ned histologic parameters, biomarkers such as, ERG, PTEN, FSN and androgen receptor (AR), also possess some prognostic value, but their routine use is not considered justi ed in all patients, up till now [4][5][6][7]. Among above-mentioned pathologic prognostic parameters, gleason score is given much importance in pathological reporting.…”