Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose expression is a possible cause of increased tumor cell proliferation and has recently been proposed as a prognostic parameter in some tumors. Expression of EGFR was studied immunohistochemically in 62 cases of human renal cell carcinomas to evaluate their possible prognostic roles. We also examined the correlation between EGFR expression and cell proliferation by immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Fifty-six cases (90.3%) expressed EGFR, with staining largely confined to the cell membrane and cytoplasm. Staining intensity of EGFR was directly correlated with nuclear grade (p=0.000) and TNM stage (p=0.015). PCNA index was significantly higher in EGFR-positive tumors than in EGFR- negative tumors. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between PCNA index and increasing staining intensity of EGFR (p=0.000). In univariate survival analysis, EGFR expression was significantly associated with shortened survival. However, EGFR expression was not an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. These findings suggest that EGFR expression may be an important cause of tumor cell proliferation in renal cell carcinoma and further studies are needed to evaluate whether EGFR expression analysis provides independent prognostic information.

• Keywords: Renal cell carcinoma;Epidermal growth factor receptor;Cell proliferation