Correlation between EGFR and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein status and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical carcinoma

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to definitive radical surgery or radiotherap y may be effective in reducing tumor volume or clinical stage and may even enhance pelvic control and survival. However, there are significant limitat ions to the use of neoadjuvant therapy in the non-responder group. They inc lude delayed total treatment course, the presence of drug resistant clones which result in accelerated tumor growth, and limited bone marrow reserve f or subsequent definitive therapy. Thus, there is a need to identity paramet ers providing a more precise indication of the response to neoadjuvant chem otherapy in patients with invasive cervical cancer. From Jan. 1995 to Jan. 1996, neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 3 courses of cisplatin and vincristine was used in 32 patients with invasive cervical cancer (FIGO stage Ib to III b; tumor size greater than 2 cm). Prior to chemotherapy, quantitative tissu e levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c-erbB-2 oncogene p rotein were measured by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Tumor size was estimated before and after chemotherapy. Relations between oncoproteins and reductions of tumor size were evaluated. Tumor size prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy did nor show any correlation with either the co ncentrations of EGFR or c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. As well, the tumor reduction index did not manifest any correlation with EGFR, it did had an inverse lin ear correlation with the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein levels (Rs= -0.71, P<0.05). T he results of this study suggest that c-erbB-2 oncoprotein is associated wi th a reduced response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in primary treatment of i nvasive cervical cancer and may be useful in directing therapeutic approach es.