Immunohistochemical analysis of EGFR and HER-2 in patients with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Abstract

Background: Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin often raise difficult therapeutic problems. Few data are available about the expression of EGFR and HER-2 in SCC of the skin. Overexpression of EGFR and of HER-2 proteins has been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of EGFR and HER-2 in a series of metastatic SCC of the skin.

Patients and methods: EGFR and HER-2 expression was studied by immunochemistry on 13 specimens of metastatic recurrence and on 2 primary lesions of these tumours.

Results: EGFR had a strong membranous expression in all specimens. HER-2 was weakly expressed in 4 specimens, with a membrane expression in 2 cases.

Conclusion: In the present study, EGFR was overexpressed in all samples of metastatic SCCs of the skin. Therefore, these metastatic tumours appear to be suitable targets for treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Additional studies are warranted to establish whether or not HER-2 is expressed in SCC of the skin.