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Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in cholangiocarcinomas: predictive factors and survival

ABSTRACT

Objective:

to evaluate the expression of the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) by immunohistochemistry, and to verify its association with prognostic factors and survival of patients operated by cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods:

we verified the immunohistochemical expression of EGFR in 35 surgical specimens of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). We obtained survival curves with the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results:

we found significant EGFR expression in ten (28.6%) of the 35 CCAs, eight with score 3 and two with score 2. Advanced stages (III and IV) presented higher EGFR expression (p=0.07). The clinical characteristics that were most associated with positive EGFR expression were female gender (p=0.06) and absence of comorbidities (p=0.06). Overall survival at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 100%, 82.5%, 59% and 44.2%, respectively. The survival of EGFR positive patients at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months was 100%, 75%, 50% and 0%, whereas for negative EGFR patients it was 100%, 87.5%, 65.6% and 65.6%, respectively.

Conclusion:

EGFR expression occurred in 28.6% of the cases studied and was associated with lower survival.

Keywords:
Cholangiocarcinoma; Genes, erbB-1; Prognosis; Survival Analysis.

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