Association between the survival time and high-expression of EGFR and HER-2 in breast cancer

Objective To investigate the relationship between the survival time and the high-expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal receptor 2 (HER2) in breast cancer patients, and assess the feasibility of using the two markers either alone or in combination for predicting the prognosis of the patients. Methods Breast cancer samples were obtained from 185 patients and measured for the expressions of EGFR and HER-2 by way of immunohistochemistry, and 120 patients (64.9%) were followed up and their survival time recorded. Sixty-five patients (35.1%) failed to be followed for various reasons. Results Of the 120 patients followed up, death occurred in 28 (15%). Positive HER2 expression was detected in 57.8% and EGFR expression in 40.5% of the all the samples examined. The over-expression of either HER2 or EGFR was in inverse correlation with the survival time (P0.05 and P0.01, respectively), and the over-expression of both related to the survival time in similar manner (P0.05 and P0.01). Conclusion The high expression of HER2 or/and EGFR suggests a short survival time and an unfavorable prognosis.