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International Journal of Clinical Oncology

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01-06-2013 | Original Article

Clinical significance of KRAS gene mutation and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in Japanese patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx

Authors: Satoshi Fujii, Hideoki Uryu, Ken Akashi, Kensuke Suzuki, Manabu Yamazaki, Makoto Tahara, Ryuichi Hayashi, Atsushi Ochiai

Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

Purpose

The significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling has been recognized in various cancers and anti-EGFR therapies in Japan are currently under consideration in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) similar to colorectal cancer. However, there was no established survey regarding heterogeneous EGFR protein expression in Japanese SCCHN patients. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between EGFR expression or KRAS mutation (related to the alteration of EGFR pathway) and the clinicopathological characteristics of SCCHN.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively examined the expression of EGFR protein by immunohistochemistry and KRAS gene mutation at codons 12 and 13 by using paraffin-embedded and formalin-fixed primary tumor tissues from 205 patients with SCCHN who underwent surgery at National Cancer Center Hospital East.

Results

In 200 of the 205 patients (97.6 %), EGFR protein was expressed despite intratumoral heterogeneity. No patients had KRAS mutation at codons 12 or 13, and all 183 tumors showed wild-type KRAS. Positive rate of EGFR protein expression was significantly associated with better disease free survival (DFS) (P = 0.0471) and the intensity of EGFR protein expression showed a tendency for better DFS (P = 0.1034). Both higher EGFR positive rate and more intense EGFR expression were significantly associated with well differentiated subtype of squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.0003 and P = 0.0007, respectively).

Conclusion

Most SCCHN patients may be good candidates for the anti-EGFR therapies.

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Title: Clinical significance of KRAS gene mutation and epidermal growth factor receptor expression in Japanese patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx
Authors: Satoshi Fujii
Hideoki Uryu
Ken Akashi
Kensuke Suzuki
Manabu Yamazaki
Makoto Tahara
Ryuichi Hayashi
Atsushi Ochiai
Publication date: 01-06-2013
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: International Journal of Clinical Oncology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1341-9625
Electronic ISSN: 1437-7772
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10147-012-0402-z

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