[Prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptors in stage I-II breast cancer: results of a six-year follow-up].

The disease-free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival was retrospectively assessed using mono- and multiparametrical methods in 197 patients with T1-2N0-1M0 tumors of the breast during a 3-73 month follow-up. No significant differences in DFS or OS were observed between epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-positive or negative patients, either in the general study group or in those without metastases in the lymph nodes. However, DFS was much and significantly higher in patients with an "endocrine" receptor phenotype of tumor (EGFR-ER+PR+) than with an "auto/paracrine" one (EGFR+ER-PR). The DFS difference was particularly pronounced within the first 48 months (up to 30%) and subsequently smoothed down. In early-stage breast cancers, ER and PR status-related studies alone failed to reliably identify the group with unfavorable prognosis. The study also failed to establish any correlation between either of the phenotypes and the relative hazard rate for DFS in cases of no post-surgical treatment or treatment lacking the endocrine component. Conversely, the risk of relapse and/or metastasis was markedly higher in tumor with EGFR, after adjuvant hormone or chemohormonal therapy. The correlation between the ER or PR-positive and negative patterns and risk of relapse were significantly lower.