EGFR as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer: evaluation of patient cohort and literature review
Christine Mehner1, Ann L. Oberg2, Krista M. Goergen2, Kimberly R. Kalli3, Matthew J. Maurer2, Aziza Nassar4, Ellen L. Goode5, Gary L. Keeney6, Aminah Jatoi3, Derek C. Radisky1 and Evette S. Radisky1
1 Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
2 Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
3 Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
4 Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
5 Department of Health Sciences Research, Division of Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
6 Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
Correspondence:
Evette S. Radisky, email:
Keywords: epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR, ovarian cancer, tissue microarray, prognostic biomarker
Received: May 13, 2017 Accepted: June 28, 2017 Published: June 30, 2017
Abstract
Background: Limited effectiveness of therapeutic agents targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in clinical trials using unselected ovarian cancer patients has prompted efforts to more effectively stratify patients who might best benefit from these therapies. A series of studies that have evaluated immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of EGFR in ovarian cancer biopsies has produced unclear results as to the utility of this measure as a prognostic biomarker. Here, we used one of the largest, single institution cohorts to date to determine possible associations of EGFR expression with patient outcome.
Methods: We performed IHC staining of EGFR in tissue microarrays including nearly 500 patient tumor samples. Staining was classified by subcellular localization (membranous, cytoplasmic) or by automated image analysis algorithms. We also performed a literature review to place these results in the context of previous studies.
Results: No significant associations were found between EGFR subcellular localization or expression and histology, stage, grade, or outcome. These results were broadly consistent with the consensus of the reviewed literature.
Conclusions: These results suggest that IHC staining for EGFR may not be a useful prognostic biomarker for ovarian cancer patients. Future studies should pursue other staining methods or analysis in combination with other pathway mediators.
