Expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor in primary nasopharygeal carcinoma and lymph node metastases / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in primary nasopharygeal carcinoma (NPC) and lymph node metastases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Archived samples of primary NPC and paired lymph node metastases from 86 patients were examined immunohistochemically for the protein expression of EGFR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EGFR expression positivity was detected in the primary NPC and lymph node metastases at the rate of 73.3% and 60.5%, respectively, and primary and metastatic foci showed significant difference in the expression levels (P=0.001). A discrepancy of EGFR expression between the primary and metastatic foci was found in 25 patients, with a discrepancy rate of 29.1% (25/86).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The difference in EGFR expression between the primary and lymph node metastastic foci of NPC needs to be evaluated when performing EGFR-targeted therapies especially in advanced NPC cases.</p>