Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy has been extensively assessed in human cancer treatment. We appraised the possible role of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in areca quid (AQ)-associated oral cavity squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) by examining EGFR protein overexpression and its tyrosine kinase domain mutations.
Methods: EGFR overexpression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, and tyrosine kinase mutations was determined by direct sequencing of DNAs from 172 OSCC tumors.
Results: Overexpression of EGFR was found in 27.9% (48 of 172) of the OSCCs and was associated with lymph node metastasis (p = .013) and extracapsular spread (p = .022). Only 1 (0.58%) OSCC displayed somatic EGFR mutation but in a silent form (T725T, ACG-->ACA).
Conclusion: EGFR-targeted therapy might have some potential in AQ-associated OSCCs for their EGFR frequently overexpressed, although EGFR mutations were rare. However, the feasibility of TKIs in AQ-associated OSCCs needs further clinical testing.
Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.