Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas Do Not Express EGFRvIII

Journal Article · Wed Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2014 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJROBP.2014.06.035· OSTI ID:22423833

Mastik, Mirjam F. ^[1]; Slagter-Menkema, Lorian ^[1]; Langendijk, Johannes A. ^[2]; Wal, Jacqueline E. van der; Vegt, Bert van der ^[1]; Roodenburg, Jan L.N. ^[3]; Schuuring, Ed ^[1]

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1. Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands)
2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands)
3. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands)

Purpose: To assess the prevalence of EGFRvIII, a specific variant of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor), in 3 well-defined cohorts of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods and Materials: Immunohistochemistry for the specific detection of EGFRvIII using the L8A4 antibody was optimized on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using glioblastoma tissue. It was compared with EGFR and EGFRvIII RNA expression using a specific reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction also optimized for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Tissue microarrays including 531 HNSCCs of various stages with complete clinicopathologic and follow-up data were tested for the presence of EGFRvIII. Results: None of the 531 cases showed EGFRvIII protein expression. Using an immunohistochemistry protocol reported by others revealed cytoplasmic staining in 8% of cases. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction for the EGFRvIII transcript of the 28 highest cytoplasmic staining cases, as well as 69 negative cases, did not show expression in any of the tested cases, suggesting aspecific staining by a nonoptimal protocol. Conclusions: The EGFRvIII mutation is not present in HNSCC. Therefore, EGFRvIII does not influence treatment response in HNSCC and is not a usable clinical prognostic marker.

• OSTI ID: 22423833
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics, Journal Name: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 90; ISSN IOBPD3; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANTIBODIES
CARCINOMAS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GLIOMAS
GROWTH FACTORS
HEAD
MUTATIONS
NECK
POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION
RECEPTORS
RNA
TRANSCRIPTION