EGFR and steroid receptors in ovarian carcinoma: comparison with prognostic parameters and outcome of patients.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptor (ER) status were analyzed in 108 primary ovarian epithelial carcinoma specimens. Receptor concentration was determined with radioligand binding assays. 61% of the carcinomas investigated were positive for EGFR, 29% for PR and 57% for ER. EGFR status was not correlated with histological grading of tumors and no difference in EGFR positivity was found between subgroups of ovarian carcinomas. On the other hand, 50% of the tumors with FIGO stage III and IV and tumors which could not be operated to be free of residual tumor mass were EGFR positive, whereas only 30% were positive within the group of tumors with FIGO stage I and II and no residual tumor mass. The outcome of the carcinoma patients was followed up for a maximum of 100 months. A significant correlation between EGFR positivity and a shorter progressive-free period as well as shorter overall survival was found. For PR and ER status no relation to patient survival became evident. The response to chemotherapy was significantly correlated to EGFR status. After 5 years 63% of the patients with negative versus 25% with positive EGFR were still alive indicating the impaired response of EGFR positive carcinomas to chemotherapy containing platinum compounds.