Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in anal canal carcinoma.

Most anal canal carcinomas (ACCs) are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). SCCs in other tumor sites strongly express epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), the inhibition of which might result in favorable changes in tumor growth. A review of the published scientific literature reveals no information regarding the expression of EGFR in ACCs. Therefore, we obtained archived pathology samples from ACC biopsies and examined the frequency and level of expression of EGFR and other cell surface and cell cycle markers. The 21 samples studied universally and strongly expressed EGFR and were negative for HER-2. Clinical studies of EGFR inhibitors in advanced ACC are warranted.