Clinical significance of epidermal growth factor receptor content in gastric cancer

The objective of this work was to evaluate the epidermal growth factor rece ptor (EGFR) content in gastric cancer, its possible relationship with clini copathological parameters of tumors and its prognostic significance. Membra nous EGFR levels were examined by radioligand binding assays in 110 patient s with gastric cancer. The mean follow-up period was 30.7 months. EGFR leve ls of tumors ranged widely, from 0.3 to 510 fmol/mg protein. EGFR levels we re significantly higher (p <0.0005) in neoplastic tissue than in paired adj acent mucosa samples (median) (n=84; 8.7 vs. 3.9 fmol/mg protein). Intratum oral EGFR levels were significantly correlated with tumor stage (p <0.05), and were higher in patients with stage III tumors (median) (7.6, 6.4, 12.3 and 7.5 fmol/mg protein for stages I, II, III and IV, respectively). In add ition, the tumor/mucosa ratios of the EGFR content were significantly highe r (p <0.05) in patients with stage III tumors (1, 1.8, 3.9, and 0.92, respe ctively). Although there was no significant relationship between EGFR level s of tumors and overall survival, the results suggest a role for EGFR in tu mor progression of gastric cancer.