The Prognostic Value of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Breast Cancer Patients: Results of a follow-up study on 149 patients

Abstract

The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in breast cancer patients was correlated to the disease-free survival. The study included 149 breast cancer patients. The mean follow-up time was 4.2 years. There was an inverse correlation bewteen EGFR and estrogen receptor (p < 0.003) and progesterone receptor (p < 0.013). Subdivision of EGFR showed that patients with EGFR ≥ 0.60%, regarded as EGFR positive, had a worse prognosis than patients with EGFR binding < 0.60%, regarded as EGFR negative (p = 0.004). In the ER negative group, EGFR positive patients had a shorter relapse-free time than patients with EGFR negative cancer (p < 0.009). The same subdivision among ER positive patients showed no statistically significant difference.