High EGFR and low p-Akt expression is associated with better outcome after nimotuzumab-containing treatment in esophageal cancer patients: Preliminary clinical result and testable hypothesis

Chun yu Wang, Jia ying Deng, Xu wei Cai, Xiao long Fu, Yuan Li, Xiao yan Zhou, Xiang hua Wu, Xi chun Hu, Min Fan, Jia qing Xiang, Ya wei Zhang, Hai quan Chen, Rolando Perez, Guo liang Jiang, Kuai le Zhao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is widely overexpressed in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and it results is associated with a poor prognosis. Identifying the subgroup of ESCC patients who are sensitive to EGFR-targeted therapy is a key point to facilitate its medical use. We retrospectively analyzed 32 ESCC patients treated with the combination of nimotuzumab (h-R3) and radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Expression of EGFR and phosphorylated proteins associated with EGFR signaling pathway, i.e. p-Akt and p-Erk, were assessed with immunohistochemistry (IHC) for all patients. Correlations between these proteins' expression levels and overall survival (OS) were assessed. High expression of EGFR, p-Akt and p-Erk was detected in 53.1% (17/32), 54.8% (17/31) and 59.4% (19/32) of tumors respectively. No significant differences in OS were found between high EGFR, p-Akt and p-Erk expression groups and their respective counterparts. Of note, significantly better overall survival was observed in patients with coexistence of high EGFR expression and low p-Akt expression (p = 0.030). Our data allowed us to put forward a hypothesis that high EGFR and low p-Akt expression may predict a clinical benefit of EGFR antagonists such as nimotuzumab combined with RT or CRT. This can be discussed in the terms of oncogene addiction and synthetic lethality concepts. This hypothesis can be further tested in larger groups of patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)18674-18682
Number of pages9
JournalOncotarget
Volume6
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • EGFR
  • Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
  • Monoclonal antibody
  • p-Akt
  • p-Erk

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