Characterization and predictive value of epidermal growth factor receptor using semi-quantitative real time PCR after deparafinization in comparison to immunohistochemistry on col…

Introduction: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in many types of cancers, especially colorectal cancers, and seems to reflect more aggressive histological and clinical course. Cetuximab is a chimeric murin-human monoclonal antibody that targets the extracellular domain of the EGFR. Immunohistochemstry (IHC) has by far been the most commonly used method, with almost all clinical cetuximab trials reported to date requiring EGFR IHC positivity for study entry. However, assumptions were made regarding the stability of EGFR and the reproducibility of this IHC expression. Several studies have re…