Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Overexpression in Human Esophageal Carcinoma and Its Relationship to the Proliferative Activity

Jun Yamashita, Akihiko Watanabe, Hidetomo Sawada, Yukishige Yamada, Yoshihide Shino, Takashi Yamada, Masahiko Matsuda, Takeshi Miwa, Hiroshige Nakano

First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University

To determine the significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression in human esophageal carcinoma, we immunohistochemically analyzed 60 tumors which were obtained from patients who underwent surgery. EGFR overexpression, located on the cancer cell membrane, was observed in 48% of these tumors. In a comparison with clinicopathological findings, significant correlations were observed between EGFR overexpression and lymph node metastasis, histologic stage or cumulative survival rate. On the other hand, to study the relationship between EGFR overexpression and the proliferative activities, we stained serial sections immunohistochemistrically by using the antiproliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and determined the PCNA labeling index (LI). There was no significant assosiation between EGFR overexpression and PCNA LI. Moreover, 34 tumors were transplanted into nude mice subcutaneously, and no significant association was found between EGFR overexpression and transplantability, growth type or doubling time of these transplanted tumors. These results suggest that the malignant potential of esophageal carcinoma with EGFR overexpression did not result from acceleration of the proliferative activity and EGFR seems to act as an enhancer of metastatic mechanism.

Key words
epidermal growth factor receptor, esophageal carcinoma, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, nude mouse

Reprint requests
Jun Yamashita First Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University
840 Shijo, Kashihara, 634 JAPAN

Accepted
February 14, 1996

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