Correlation between Human-epidermal Growth Factor and Prognosis, Histological Findings, and DNA Ploidy Patterns on Esophageal Carcinoma

Akira Kawaguchi, Jyunsuke Shibata, Masashi Kodama, Ryouji Kushima, Takanori Hattori*

The First Department of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science
*The First Department of Pathology, Shiga University of Medical Science

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was studied immunohistochemically in a total of 37 esophageal carcinomas and compared with histological findings, prognosis, and DNA ploidy patterns which were measured by the cytophotometrical method. Histologically, the incidence of EFG immunoreactivity in welldifferentiated squamous cell carcinomas was higher than in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. A significant correlation was observed between the depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic invasion and EGF immunoreactivity (p<0.05). Furthermore a good correlation was demonstrated between lymphnode metastasis, DNA ploidy pattern and EGF immunoreactivity. The survical rate was worse for patients with EGF-positive tumor cells than for those with EGF-negative cells. These findings suggest that EGF stimulates proliferation and differentiation of esophageal carcinoma and influences its prognosis.

Key words
esophageal carcinoma, expression of epidermal growth factor, DNA ploidy pattern of esophageal carcinoma

Reprint requests
Akira Kawaguchi The First Department of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical Science
Seta, Ohtsu, 520-21 JAPAN

Accepted
April 11, 1990

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