EGFR Immunoexpression in Malignant Serous and Mucinous Ovarian Tumors

Curr Health Sci J. 2018 Apr-Jun;44(2):129-134. doi: 10.12865/CHSJ.44.02.06. Epub 2018 Mar 27.

Abstract

The epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) is involved in various stages of cancer growth such as tumor initiation, angiogenesis and metastasis, being an attractive target for oncogenic therapy. The present study aims to evaluate the EGFR expression in 54 cases of serous and mucinous ovarian borderline tumors and carcinomas. EGFR expression was present in more than half of the investigated tumors, more frequently in carcinomas than in borderline tumors, especially in the serous type. The highest values of the final staining score (FSS) were observed only in serous carcinomas in the advanced stages of the disease. As a result of frequent expression of EGFR in ovarian tumors, it is necessary to monitor EGFR inhibitors for ovarian cancer therapy, but probably after establishing more rigorous selection and stratification criteria for patients.

Keywords: malignant ovarian tumors; EGFR.