Epidermal growth factor receptor copy number in potentially malignant oral disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma: a short communication and preliminary study

• Published in: Journal of oral pathology & medicine 2012-10, Vol.41 (9), p.662-666
• Main Authors: Bagan, Jose V., Mata-Roig, Manuel, Cortio-Gimeno, Julio, Murillo-Cortes, Judith, Hens-Aumente, Elena, Poveda-Roda, Rafael, Bagan, Leticia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Dentistry; epidermal growth factor receptor copy number; Female; Gene Amplification - genetics; Gene Dosage - genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Humans; Laser Therapy; Leukoplakia, Oral - genetics; Lymphatic Metastasis - genetics; Male; Medical sciences; Microdissection; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms - genetics; Neoplasm Staging; oral squamous cell carcinoma; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; potentially malignant oral disorder; Precancerous Conditions - genetics; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - analysis; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Tumors; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology
• ISSN: 0904-2512; 1600-0714
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2012.01137.x

J Oral Pathol Med (2012) 41: 662–666 Introduction:  This preliminary study compared the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) copy number in patients with potentially malignant oral disorders (PMODs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Material and methods:  Group 1 comprised 20 patients with oral leukoplakia and group 2 comprised 19 cases of OSCC. We estimated the EGFR copy number in both groups using real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. We used laser microdissection (LMD) for EGFR amplification, and overexpression was performed. Results:  The EGFR copy number was higher in group 2 (9.1 ± 6.2) than in group 1 (3.8 ± 1.5). The greatest copy number was found in the non‐homogeneous leukoplakias, but the difference in homogeneous cases was not significant (Mann–Whitney test, P > 0.05). In group 2, the EGFR copy number was higher in advanced stages than in early stages, but again lacked statistical significance. Conclusions:  The EGFR copy number may be a useful biomolecular marker to differentiate PMODs from OSCC. The EGFR was higher in non‐homogeneous leukoplakias and in the advanced stages of OSCC.