Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the prognosis of bladder carcinoma. Experience of 5 years

• Published in: Archivos españoles de urología Vol. 53; no. 4; pp. 323 - 331
• Main Authors: Moreno Sierra, J, Maestro de las Casas, M L, Redondo González, E, Fernández Pérez, C, del Barco Barriuso, M T, Sanz Casla, V, Blanco Jiménez, E, Silmi Moyano, A, Resel Estévez, L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01-05-2000
• Subjects: Humans; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - analysis; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - chemistry; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - metabolism; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms - mortality
• ISSN: 0004-0614

From November 1992 to November 1993, a prospective study was conducted on 20 controls and 61 patients with bladder carcinoma. EGFR expression was determined by radioimmunoassay and the correlation of the results of histological analysis and the clinical course was analyzed. The follow-up period was from November 1992 to July 1998. The association between qualitative variables and the x2 or Fisher exact test was compared using the hypothesis of the proportional ordinal trend for the ordinal variables, and the quantitative variables were analyzed using Student's t test and/or variance analysis (ANOVA). Survival was analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and comparison was performed using the Breslow exact test. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was utilized. The SPSS software for Windows 7.0 was used for the analysis.
The EGFR values were higher for patients with bladder carcinoma than in controls (14.48 vs 2.54 fmol/mg of protein). EGFR values were higher in patients with superficial bladder tumor than in those with infiltrating tumors (27.03 fmol/mg vs. 10.05 fmol/mg of protein; p = 0.000). Poorly differentiated tumors showed higher values of EGFR (6.73, 14.48 and 17.07 fmol/mg of protein for grades I, II and III, respectively; p < 0.05). The EGFR values were higher in patients that died from cancer during follow-up (64.8) than in those who died from other causes (47.5) and those who are alive and on follow-up (42). An increase in EGFR values did not carry a risk of death from cancer (p = 0.1269; ns). Analysis of the grade of tumor differentiation showed that for the more aggressive tumor grade, a positive EGFR was a sign of reduced survival. Survival in patients with superficial and infiltrating tumor did not appear to change significantly according to the EGFR value. EGFR determination was not useful in predicting recurrence and increased EGFR values did not correlate with a higher risk of recurrence.
1) The normal pattern of EGFR could not be established. 2) EGFR was not useful in identifying subgroups at risk of death. 3) Knowledge about these proteins synthesized by oncogenes offers new possibilities in the treatment of cancer.