EGFR expression in advanced head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Background The significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck remains poorly understood. Methods We performed a retrospective review of patients with advanced-stage (stage III or stage IV) cutaneous SCC of the head and neck (n = 56). Results The majority of patients (91%) had stage III disease, with 54% having regional metastasis and 9% with distant metastasis. Two-year survival was 64% and the 5-year survival was 56%. EGFR was found to be overexpressed in 56% of primary tumors and 58% of regional metastatic disease. Overall survival did not correlate with EGFR (p =.47) expression in primary lesions, nor was it associated with an increase in regional (p =.74) or distant metastasis (p =.56). Furthermore, there was no correlation between clinicopathologic characteristics and EGFR expression Conclusions These data do not suggest upregulation of EGFR is associated with poor survival or aggressive disease. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.