Epidermal growth factor receptor as predicting factor on biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy: A prospective study

Purpose: We investigated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in prostate cancer (PCa) and their potential role as predicting factor on biochemical recurrence (BCR). Materials and Methods: Between February 2005 and February 2007, EGFR expression were prospectively evaluated in a consecutive series of 88 PCa patients with the following characteristics: 66 patients treated with retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP); 22 patients treated with neoadjuvant hormonal therapy followed by RRP. The relationship between EGFR expression and several clinicopathologic parameters were evaluated. The probability of BCR-free survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: EGFR expression, was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, was found in 31 of 88 (35.2%) patients. 8 of 31 EGFR-positive patients (25.8%) had BCR, whereas only 5 of 57 EGFR-negative patients (8.8%) had BCR (p=0.031) during a median follow-up of 21 months. Among several variables, high serum prostate-specific antigen values (≥20), extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, and EGFR expression were the significant predictors of BCR on univariate analysis. But, multivariate analysis showed that no variable was significant predictor of BCR. EGFR-negative patients had a significantly longer mean BCR-free survival time than EGFR-positive patients (p=0.027). Conclusions: EGFR expression could be an potential predicting factor on BCR following RRP.