Analysis of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Comparision of Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization and Immunochemistry

Abstract

Aim: Epidermal growth factor receptor altered activity has been implicated in the development and growth of many tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma. In our study, we aimed to demonstrate and compare the epidermal growth factor receptor gene aberration by fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical method. We also aimed to demonstrate the relation between epidermal growth factor receptor and established prognostic features, like tumor differentiation, vascular invasion, cytokeratin-19 immuohistochemical positivity. Methods: Twenty-six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma without having any metastasis and recurrences clinically at the time of tumor resection were recruited in our study. All cases were divided into two groups, according to their immunohistochemical cytokeratin-19 expression as either cytokeratin-19 positive or cytokeratin-19 negative hepatocellular carcinomas. Immunohistochemistry for epidermal growth factor receptor, and fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses were performed. The clinical and pathologic prognostic features were noted. Results: We have shown that the immunochemistry expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in hepatocellular carcinoma is not related to epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number. Conclusion: As there is considerable disparity in the literature about the relationship of epidermal growth factor receptor expression and prognostic features in hepatocellular carcinoma further studies of larger series are needed.