IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR LACKS PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE FOR BREAST-CARCINOMA

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether the immunohistochemical dete ction of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in primary cancer ti ssues is of prognostic significance in patients with breast carcinoma. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissues from 244 study subjects with prima ry breast carcinomas were tested immunohistochemically for the presenc e of EGF-R and were compared in a retrospective study with clinical ou tcome. RESULTS: Epidermal growth factor receptor was detected in the t umors of 49 (20.1%) of the 244 study subjects. The incidence of EGF-R detection was comparable in subjects with disease-free lymph nodes (T1 -4, N0,M0, n = 111; EGF-R present 22.5%) or those whose nodes containe d carcinoma (T1-4, N+, M0, n = 133; EGF-R present 18.9%). Na reliable correlation was found in either group between EGF-R detection and clin ical, functional, or morphologic prognostic indicators that included a ge, menopausal status, tumor size, tumor grade, nodal status, and horm one receptor status. Relapse-free survival and overall survival (media n observation time 62.5 months) did not differ between patients with E GF-R-positive or EGF-R-negative breast carcinoma specimens. CONCLUSION S: In our experience, the immunohistochemical determination of EGF-R i n routine formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens fails to p rovide useful information concerning the prognosis of patients with pr imary breast carcinoma.