Clinicopathologic significances of EGFR expression at invasive front of colorectal cancer

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is frequently expressed in the invasive front of colorectal cancer (CRC), but its clinicopathologic significance remains unclear. We investigated the clinical value of the EGFR expression at the invasive front of CRC. Methods: We performed an immunohistochemical analysis in order to examine the expression and distribution of EGFR in 214 cases of CRC. The EGFR status was considered positive when ≥1% of the tumor cells had membranous staining. Results: Overall, an EGFR expression was observed in 144 (67%) cases and it had no significant relationship with the clinicopathologic parameters. However, an EGFR expression at the invasive front was correlated with lymphatic invasion, lymph node metastasis and a high level of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (p = 0.028, p = 0.043, and p = 0.045, respectively). For the budding-positive CRCs liver metastases were found in the cases with an EGFR expression at the budding, but no liver metastasis occurred in the EGFR negative cases at the budding (p = 0.030). Conclusions: An EGFR expression at the invasive front has clinicopathologic significances in patients with CRC. An EGFR expression at tumor cell budding is a pathologic marker that suggests the high potential for liver metastasis in CRC.