Correlation of EGFR Expression with Survival Rate in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study aimed to indicate the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in proliferation and growth of epithelial tissue and to determine the correlation be-tween the frequency of expression of EGF receptor (EGFR) by means of immunohistochemistry with survival rate in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
Thirty-eight cases of OSCC diagnosed by hematoxylin and eo-sin (H&E) staining were included in this prospective study, and immunohistochemistry for EGFR was applied using antibodies against EGFR. The total score of stained cells and the correlation between the total score and survival rate of patients were recorded. The data were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier, Spearman and the log rank tests using SPSS software version 20.
The mean age of patients was 71.8±1.09 years. The follow up range was 25-86 months. The mean survival time for EGFR score 3 (51±9.32 months) was significantly higher than that for score 4, (28.64±4.1 months) (P=0.002) and overexpression of EGFR was correlated with poor prognosis. A significant correlation was found between the grade of tumor and EGFR scale (P=0.049, R=0.318). There was no significant correlation between EGFR overexpression and OSCC stage (P>0.05).
EGFR is probably an independent prognostic factor for assessment of survival rate. A correlation also exists between the grade of tumor and expression of EGFR.