Prognostic value of the expression of EGFR and nm23 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the prognostic value of the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and nm23 in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods From 2003 to 2006, 127 NPC patients who had undergone biopsy before radiotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. All patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy using 6 MV X-rays combined with platinum-based chemotherapy. Immunohistochemistry SP method was adopted to detect the expression of EGFR and nm23 in NPC biopsy specimens . The relationship between the expression of EGFR and nm23 and survival was analyzed. Results The positive rate of EGFR and nm23 were 80.3% and 47. 2% respectively. The nm23expression was correlated with distant metastasis (χ2=7.03, P = 0. 008 ). The 5-year estimated local control, over-all survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 58.3% ,53.5% and 46. 5%. Patients with negative expression of EGFR had a significantly better 5-year OS, DFS (χ2=8.23, P=0.004;χ2=5.25,P=0.022) than those with positive expression. Patients with positive expression of nm23 had a significantly higher 5-year OS (χ2=15.68, P = 0. 000) and DFS (χ2=14. 85, P = 0. 000) than those with negative expression. The clinical stage, EGFR and nm23 expression were independent prognostic factors shown by Cox proportional hazard model (χ2=23.03, 18.33, 39.92, P= 0.000, 0.000, 0.000).Conclusions The EFGR and nm23 expression were correlated with the prognosis in NPC patients. Key words: Nasopharyngeal neoplasms;  Epidermal growth factor receptor;  nm23;  Prognosis