We examined epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and/or c-erbB-2 expression, clinicopathological variables, silver-stained nuclear organizer region (Ag-NOR) counts, and their prognostic values in 93 patients with operable breast carcinoma. There was no significant correlation between c-erbB-2 and EGFR expression. Increased Ag-NOR counts were significantly associated with positive c-erbB-2 expression, but not with positive EGFR expression. However, co-expression of both proteins was significantly correlated with axillary lymph node metastases. Significant differences in survival were found between groups of patients stratified by tumor size, histological grade, axillary lymph node metastases, c-erbB-2, and EGFR expression by univariate analysis. In addition, c-erbB-2 and EGFR expression in combination was strongly correlated with decreased survival. However, only axillary lymph node metastases and age appeared to be independent prognostic factors by multivariate analysis. We therefore conclude that the prognostic value of c-erbB-2 and EGFR expression is limited in breast carcinoma.

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