EXPRESSION OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND ANDROGEN RECEPTORS IN OVARIAN-CANCER

Ovarian cancer is the second most common malignancy of the female repr oductive tract. Approximately 50% of ovarian cancers have elevated lev els of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This overexpression is correlated with a poor prognosis for patient survival. Ovarian cancer s also express a number of sex steroid receptors. The androgen recepto r (AR) is the predominant sex steroid receptor and is expressed in ove r 80% of ovarian cancers. We investigated whether a relationship exist s between EGFR and AR in ovarian cancer. Sixty serous cystadenocarcino mas were analyzed for their relative levels of EGFR and AR by Western blot analysis. Data were analyzed by Student's t test and linear regre ssion analysis for statistical significance. More than 98% of the tumo rs expressed detectable levels of EGFR, while 65% of the tumors expres sed detectable levels of AR. The levels of EGFR (mean +/- SEM) were fo und to be significantly (P < 0.01) higher in AR+ (516 +/- 15) than in AR- (304 +/- 57) tumors. EGFR levels significantly correlated to AR le vels (r = 0.49, P < 0.001). These results demonstrate an association b etween EGFR and AR levels in ovarian cancer. Whether this association represents a causal or a casual relationship remains to be determined. (C) 1997 Academic Press.