Immunohistochemical Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective: To determine the frequency of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by immuno-histochemistry in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study:Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from September 2015 to March 2016. Methodology: Fifty-two cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed on H and E stain were included in the study. Patients' gender and age were noted. Immunohistochemistry for EGFR was applied and the results were recorded. The data were analyzed by using computer software program SPSS version 19. Descriptive statistics, frequencies and percentages were calculated. Results: Out of the 52 patients of HNSCC, 37 patients were males and 15 females. The age of the patients was between 21 and 80 years with an average age of 58.58 +-12.63. Out of 52 cases, 45 cases (86.53 percent) were positive for EGFR while 7 cases (13.46 percent) were negative for EGFR. Significant statistical association was not seen between the tumour grade and EGFR expression (p=0.162). Conclusion: The high expression of EGFR in head and neck cancers among Pakistani patients suggests its value as a therapeutic target. EGFR inhibitors have become well-known part of HNSCC treatment; therefore, patients with EGFR positive HNSCC can be benefitted from the therapy. (author)