Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in normal ovarian epithelium and ovarian cancer

The epidermal growth factor receptor, located on the surfaces of certain cell types, plays a role in cell growth and development, although the physiological mechanisms are not well understood. In some malignant conditions, levels of epidermal growth factor receptor increase. For instance, increased epidermal growth factor receptor expression (synthesis of the protein) is associated with a poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Although more women die of epithelial ovarian cancer (the most common type of ovarian cancer) than of all other gynecologic cancers combined, little is known regarding epidermal growth factor receptor expression in this malignancy. To learn more about this, tumor samples from 87 women who underwent surgery for ovarian cancer were analyzed for the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor. Fifty-seven patients had specimens removed during their initial surgery only, while 30 patients had specimens removed at a second surgery only. Five patients from the first group also had tissue removed at a second exploratory surgery. Ovarian tissue from six women undergoing surgery for benign conditions served as control material. Results showed that epidermal growth factor receptor was present in normal ovarian tissue in a homogeneous pattern, with staining of light or moderate intensity (a measure of the amount of epidermal growth factor receptor present). Among the 57 initial-surgery specimens, staining for epidermal growth factor receptor was absent in 11 specimens (19 percent); light in 18 (32 percent); moderate in 22 (38 percent); and heavy in 6 (11 percent). No changes in staining were noted for the five second-surgery specimens. Epidermal growth factor receptor was absent in 23 percent of the 87 cases of ovarian cancer studied, and no correlation was found between its presence and other histologic prognostic factors, nor was a correlation found between response to treatment and this receptor. However, patients whose tumors did not express epidermal growth factor receptor survived longer than those whose tumors expressed this protein. The data indicate that epidermal growth factor receptor is a prognostic indicator for epithelial ovarian cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)