The difference and clinical significance of the expressions of EGFR and HER-2 in three malignant salivary gland epithelial tumors

Objective To investigate the expressions of EGFR and HER-2 in mucoepidermoid carcinoma,adenoid cystic carcinoma and acinar cell carcinoma,and to analyze the expression difference and clinical significance. Methods The expressions of EGFR and HER-2 in case group( mucoepidermoid carcinoma,adenoid cystic carcinoma and acinar cell carcinoma) and control group( benign pleomorphic adenoma) were measured by immunohistochemical method. The difference of expression rate and expression intensity was analyzed by SPSS 17. 0 statistical software and correlation between EGFR and HER-2 in case group was analyzed by Spearman rank correlation. Results The expression rate and expression intensity of EGFR( 71. 25%,+ 16 cases,+ + 23 cases,+ + + 18 cases) in case group were significantly higher than control group( 50%,+ 13,+ + 2; P 0. 05 and P 0. 01). The expression rate and expression intensity of EGFR in mucoepidermoid carcinoma were the highest among three tumors with significant differences( P 0. 01). The positive HER-2 rate in case group was significantly higher than control group( 32. 5% vs. 13. 33%,P 0. 05). The positive HER-2 rate in mucoepidermoid carcinoma was the highest among three tumors with significant differences( P 0. 05). There was no significant difference in EGFR or HER-2 among genders,ages,diameters,tumor differentiation and tissue types( P 0. 05). The expressions of EGFR and HER-2 had no correlation in case group( P 0. 05). Conclusion EGFR can be regarded as the potential target of molecular target therapy in three malignant salivary gland epithelial tumors especially in mucoepidermoid carcinoma because of its high frequency and intensity expression. The molecular target therapy significance of HER-2 remains to be further researched on gene level because of its low intensity expression.