AbstractBackground: Increased expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene has been shown in a large number of tumors, generally indicating a more aggressive biological behavior of cancers than those with low or normal expression. The role of EGFR in the tumorigenesis of the uterine cervix has been poorly understood and controversial.
Aim: In order to explore the relationship between EGFR status and cervical carcinoma this study has been conducted to evaluate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein in benign conditions of cervix, cervical intraepitheal lesions (CIN) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of cervix.
Material & Methods-: Immunohistochemical expression of EGFR in 106 cases of various lesions of uterine cervix was studied including chronic non specific cervicitis, CIN and SCC then correlation between histopathological diagnosis and EGFR immunostaining was also observed.
Results: Most of the cases of chronic cervicitis (87.5%) were negative for EGFR expression. 9/ 21 cases (42.9%) of low grade CIN showed positivity for EGFR while 27/36 (77.78%) of high grade CIN expressed EGFR. 26/33 cases (78.79%) of invasive Squamous cell carcinoma showed strong immunoexpression of EGFR. A gradual increase in the intensity and rate of expression from chronic cervicitis, low grade CIN and high grade CIN to invasive squamous cell carcinoma was observed.
Conclusion: A statistically significant correlation was found between increases of EGFR positivity from CIN to SCC. EGFR expression level in the premalignant.
Keywords: EGFR; CIN; SCC; Uterine Cervix.