Epidermal growth factor receptor [Egfr] and C-erbB-2 Expression in colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma

ABSTRACT

The incidence of colorectal cancer [CRC] has been rising worldwide. Discovery of new prognostic markers in CRC patients is necessary to improve the outcome of disease and to select appropriate treatment. The epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] is a trans- membrane glycol-protein. An abnormal expression of the EGFR has been described in many human tumors and implicated in the development and prognosis of malignancies. C-erbB-2 is a proto oncogene. Several studies have demonstrated the value of c-erbB-2 in predicting the biological behavior of tumors. Forty five patients were included in our study. Thirty were having colorectal adenocarcinoma [21 male and 9 female] and fifteen having adenoma [11 male and 4 female] with median age of 63 years. EGFR and c-erbB-2 over expression was immunohistochemically analyzed in colorectal adenoma and colorectal adenocarcinomas in order to determine whether there was a relationship between these two proteins and various histological and clinical characteristics with their respective impact on prognosis and to study their potential usage in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer. In the current study the expression of c-erbB-2 was significantly higher in preneoplastic lesions [93.3%] than colorectal cancer [60%] p<0.001. EGFR showed an inverse pattern to c-erbB-2 expression was significantly inversely associated with low grade tumor [GI] p hand EFGR occurred more often in tumors with high histological grade GIII [p parameters as patient age and tumor size [p>0.05]. As regards, tumor location only, c-erbB-2 expression was frequently expressed in rectal cancer versus colon cancer cases [p<0.05]. From this study we can conclude that c-erbB-2 can be potentially used in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer and considered as a significant predictor of the occurrence of colorectal carcinoma while EGFR expression is considered as a prognostic tool for prediction of cancer behavior and clinical outcome in CRC cases