PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF C-ERBB-2 AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR IN STAGE AL (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 (T1a) 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 percent (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 hyperplast..