The epidermal growth factor receptor as a prognostic marker: Results of 370 patients and review of 3009 patients

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and estrogen receptor (ER) were assayed by ligand binding in tumors from 370 patients with primary breast carcinoma with a median follow up of 18 months. Forty seven percent (175/370) and 57% (210/370) of tumors had >20 fmol/mg and >10 fmol/mg of EGFR and ER respectively. There was a highly significant inverse relationship between EGFR and ER (p=0.0032). There was also a significant association between EGFR and patient age (p=0.0006) but no correlation between EGFR and lymph node status, tumor grade, or tumor size (p=0.104, p=0.198, and p=0.085 respectively). In a univariate analysis of all patients, EGFR expression was not associated with a significan..