EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN BREAST-CANCER - CORRELATION OF QUANTITATIVE IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL ASSAYS TO PROGNOSTIC FACTORS

Immunocytochemical assays for EGFR were performed on frozen sections f rom breast carcinomas (n = 209). Results were evaluated by computer as sisted image analysis to accurately define the percentage of immunosta ined surface and the mean optical densities. Thirty seven percent (n= 77/209) of the tumors were EGFR positive, but about one third of them were faintly reactive (35%). No significant relationship was observed between EGFR tumor content and patient age, tumor size, histological t ype, histoprognostic grade, or axillary lymph node status. A negative correlation was observed with the results of estrogen receptor immunoc ytochemical assays and a positive correlation with immunodetectable ca thepsin D and Ki 67 antigen evaluated according the same method. No co rrelation was found with HER-2/neu protein, aneuploidy, nucleolar orga nizor region distribution, and nuclear morphometry, also assessed by i mage analysis. These results suggest that immunocytochemical assays as sessed on frozen sections and evaluated by image analysis are suitable for current and standardized evaluation of EGFR which has been previo usly documented as a prognostic indicator in breast carcinomas.