Prognostic value of c‐erbB‐2 and epidermal growth factor receptor in stage A1 (Tla) prostatic adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Objective To determine whether the presence or absence of the oncoproteins epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and c‐erbB‐2 could predict tumour behaviour. Patients and methods Tissue from 45 stage A1 (Tla) prostatic adenocarcinomas from patients with a mean age of 65 years were immunostained for EGFR (12E) and c‐erbB‐2 (NCL‐CB11). Their expression in the tumour and surrounding benign hyperplastic epithelium was correlated with each other and with survival. Results Forty per cent (18 of 45) and 36% (16 of 45) of patients respectively were EGFR and c‐erbB‐2 positive in the tumour. Expression of these tyrosine kinase oncogenes was not confined to the tumour and the surrounding hyperplastic..