Prognostic utility of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is potential prognostic biomarker expressed in many human cancers. Prognostic significance of EGFR immunohistochemical expression has not been established in prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma, therefore we aimed to evaluate the frequency of expression of EGFR in prostatic adenocarcinoma and its association with other prognostic parameters. Methods: The study included 123 cases of biopsy proven prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma treated at Liaquat National hospital, Karachi from January 2013 till December 2017. Paraffin blocks of all cases were retrieved; sections were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Pathologic characteristics including tumor quantification, WHO grade group, gleason score, perineural and lymphovascular invasion were evaluated. EGFR immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on all tissue blocks. Results: Mean age of the patients included in the study was 69.05±8.68years. High gleason scores i.e. 8 & 9 were noted in 22% (27 cases) and 22.8% (28 cases) respectively. Similarly, 22.8% (28 cases) showed WHO grade group 5. 52.8% (65 cases) had > 50% tissue involvement by carcinoma and perineural invasion was seen in 37.4% (46 cases). Positive EGFR expression was noted in 18.7% (23 cases), while 81.3% (100 cases) showed negative EGFR expression. Significant association of EGFR expression was noted with gleason score (p-value = < 0.001), WHO grade (p = < 0.001), tumor quantification (p =0.007) and perineural invasion (p = < 0.001). Moreover, significant association of EGFR expression was also seen with disease recurrence and Her2neu over expression. Patients with low gleason scores (score 6 and 7) and lower grade group (1, 2 & 3) were less likely to have positive EGFR expression as compared to patients with high gleason score (score 9) and higher grade group (5). Similarly, patients with perineural invasion were more likely to have positive EGFR expression. Conclusion: We found a relatively low EGFR expression in our patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma; however, its association with poor prognostic parameters like high gleason score, higher grade group, perineural invasion, higher tissue involvement by cancer and disease recurrence signifies its importance as a prognostic parameter in prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma (AU)

Low p27kip1 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: association with risk factors and adverse outcomes

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of head and neck is highly prevalent in South-asian countries, owing to high consumption of areca nut/gutka and chewing tobacco. p27kip1 is a tumor suppressor gene, thought to be downregulated in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, in the present study we used immunohistochemical analysis to investigate an association between low p27kip1 expression in SCC of the head and neck and adverse outcomes/risk factors. Methods: Total 105 cases of SCC of head and neck excision specimens were selected from records of pathology department archives that underwent surgeries at Liaquat National hospital, Karachi from January 2008 till December 2013. Clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients were evaluated and p27kip1 immunohistochemistry was applied on tumor blocks. Results: In our study, low expression of p27kip1 in SCC of head and neck was seen in 39(37.1%) cases while 66(62. 9%) of the cases showed high expression for p27kip1. Significant association of p27kip1 expression with pan/gutka usage (p = 0.004), and recurrence (p = 0.001) was noted; however, no significant association of p27kip1 expression with other clinicopathologic features was seen. Multivariate binary logistic regression showed cases with history of pan/gutka usage were more likely to show low p27kip1 expression. Similarly, we also found that recurrence was more likely to develop in patients with low expression of p27kip1 in comparison to cases showing high p27kip1 expression. Conclusion: Loss of p27kip1 expression is a significant event involved in the pathogenesis of SCC head and neck especially that of oral cavity. Significant association of gutka/areca nut with low p27kip1 expression in our study suggests that loss p27kip1 expression is a major event involved in areca nut induced SCC of head and neck in this part of the world; however, more large scale molecular based studies are required to validate this observation. Moreover, significant association of low p27kip1 expression with tumor recurrence suggests its importance as a prognostic biomarker in SCC of head and neck (AU)