[Immunohistochemical expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in epidermoid carcinoma of the cervix uteri and its precursor lesions].

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) immunohistochemical expression was determined in 24 histological samples of squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, 81 cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (47 low-grade and 34 high grade), 20 normal squamous epithelia, 11 squamous mature metaplasias and 14 cervical adenocarcinomas. In 30 cases, it was determined by means in situ hybridization the presence of Human Papillomaviruses 6/11, 16/18 and 31/33/35. The immunohistochemical EGFR expression was higher in high-grade epithelial lesions (64.7%), particularly moderate dysplasia (72.2%), than in low-grade lesions (44.7%) and squamous carcinoma (45.8%), with significance differences only between high-grade lesions and normal squamous epithelia (p < 0.02). There were not EGFR expression differences between cervical squamous carcinoma (45.8%) and adenocarcinoma (42.9%). These findings suggest that the elevated expression of EGFR may be linked, at least initially, to the malignant state of the cervical squamous epithelia. On the other hand, the higher presence of HPV 16/18 than other HPV types in EGFR positive lesions, indicates some association between both factors.