T Schneider1, A Strehl2, C Linz1, R Brands1, S Hartmann1, F Beckford1, A Rosenwald2, A C Kübler1, U D A Müller-Richter3. 1. Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany. 2. Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080, Würzburg, Germany. 3. Oral and Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, Pleicherwall 2, 97070, Würzburg, Germany. mueller_u2@ukw.de.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Salivary gland carcinomas (e.g., adenoidcystic carcinoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma) are rare and often unresectable head and neck tumors. They are also weakly affected by most chemotherapeutic drugs, which emphasize the need for further studies on this topic. In clinical practice, various drugs target the well-characterized EGFR pathway in many epithelial tumors. There is limited reliable data on phophorylated EGFR expression, such as activated conformation, in salivary gland tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study investigates the pEGFR expression in salivary gland carcinomas (n = 43). Three different carcinoma varieties, that represent >50 % of all salivary gland tumors, were included: adenoidcystic carcinoma (n = 23), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 17), and adenocarcinoma NOS (not otherwise specified) (n = 3). The specimens were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, mutations of KRAS oncogene were screened with gene sequencing. The findings were correlated with clinical data by using SPSS. RESULTS: In 34 out of 43 specimens (79 %), a positive staining for pEGFR was found. Sex, tumor entity, tumor site, and grading had no significant correlation with pEGFR expression. A weak correlation was found for tumor size and pEGFR expression. Significant correlations were found for pEGFR expression with patient's age and lymph node metastasis (pN). No specimen showed a KRAS mutation in codon 12 or 13. CONCLUSION: Salivary gland carcinomas show a high expression of pEGFR. This high expression correlates with lymph node metastasis, which supports the hypothesis that a high pEGFR expression facilitates lymphogenous metastasis. Due to this pEGFR expression, status may be a negative predictive factor in salivary gland carcinoma diagnostics. Patients with pN-positive salivary gland cancer may benefit from EGFR-inhibiting drugs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The EGFR pathway may be a potential target for chemotherapy of advanced unresectable salivary gland carcinomas.
OBJECTIVES:Salivary gland carcinomas (e.g., adenoidcystic carcinoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma) are rare and often unresectable head and neck tumors. They are also weakly affected by most chemotherapeutic drugs, which emphasize the need for further studies on this topic. In clinical practice, various drugs target the well-characterized EGFR pathway in many epithelial tumors. There is limited reliable data on phophorylated EGFR expression, such as activated conformation, in salivary gland tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study investigates the pEGFR expression in salivary gland carcinomas (n = 43). Three different carcinoma varieties, that represent >50 % of all salivary gland tumors, were included: adenoidcystic carcinoma (n = 23), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (n = 17), and adenocarcinoma NOS (not otherwise specified) (n = 3). The specimens were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, mutations of KRAS oncogene were screened with gene sequencing. The findings were correlated with clinical data by using SPSS. RESULTS: In 34 out of 43 specimens (79 %), a positive staining for pEGFR was found. Sex, tumor entity, tumor site, and grading had no significant correlation with pEGFR expression. A weak correlation was found for tumor size and pEGFR expression. Significant correlations were found for pEGFR expression with patient's age and lymph node metastasis (pN). No specimen showed a KRAS mutation in codon 12 or 13. CONCLUSION:Salivary gland carcinomas show a high expression of pEGFR. This high expression correlates with lymph node metastasis, which supports the hypothesis that a high pEGFR expression facilitates lymphogenous metastasis. Due to this pEGFR expression, status may be a negative predictive factor in salivary gland carcinoma diagnostics. Patients with pN-positive salivary gland cancer may benefit from EGFR-inhibiting drugs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The EGFR pathway may be a potential target for chemotherapy of advanced unresectable salivary gland carcinomas.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adenoid cystic carcinoma; Cetuximab; EGFR; KRAS; Salivary gland cancer
Authors: Clara Montagut; Alba Dalmases; Beatriz Bellosillo; Marta Crespo; Silvia Pairet; Mar Iglesias; Marta Salido; Manuel Gallen; Scot Marsters; Siao Ping Tsai; André Minoche; Somasekar Seshagiri; Seshagiri Somasekar; Sergi Serrano; Heinz Himmelbauer; Joaquim Bellmunt; Ana Rovira; Jeff Settleman; Francesc Bosch; Joan Albanell Journal: Nat Med Date: 2012-01-22 Impact factor: 53.440
Authors: Michelle D Williams; Dianna B Roberts; Merrill S Kies; Li Mao; Randal S Weber; Adel K El-Naggar Journal: Clin Cancer Res Date: 2010-04-06 Impact factor: 12.531
Authors: B Lujan; S Hakim; S Moyano; A Nadal; M Caballero; A Diaz; A Valera; M Carrera; A Cardesa; L Alos Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 2010-07-27 Impact factor: 7.640