Pitfalls in immunohistochemical assessment of EGFR expression in soft tissue sarcomas

摘要: Background: New targeted cancer treatments acting against growth factor receptors such as the epidermal receptor (EGFR) necessitate selecting patients for treatment with these drugs. Besides carcinomas, soft tissue sarcomas (STS) express EGFR and might thereby be a promising target this new therapeutic strategy. Objective: To test compare different antibodies to determine frequency of expression in STS. Methods: 302 consecutive specimens STS were examined using microarray technique. levels assessed by immunohistochemistry five commercially available antibodies. Gene amplification status was measured fluorescence situ hybridisation (FISH). Immunoreactivity correlated clinicopathological features follow up data 163 cases. Results: ranged between 0.3% 52.9%, depending on antibody scoring method used. In all, 3.5% tumours showed egfr gene FISH, which three Only one had independent prognostic value multivariate analysis an unfavourable outcome; no correlation clinical features. Conclusions: Frequency immunopositivity strongly depends used, only tested predicted outcome. This indicates that choice primary system have substantial impact determination immunoreactivity.