Introduction
Increased expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is linked to the early phases of neoplastic transformation, is linked to the tumor’s aggressiveness, invasiveness, and treatment failure (1). Additionally, it supports angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, and the metastatic process (2).
Metastasis is one of the main causes influencing the treatment outcome in laryngeal cancer and EGFR expression analysis may assist identify individuals who are at a high risk of developing metastasis (2-3). Early identification of patients at higher risk of recurrence using EGFR in conjunction with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α) may be beneficial in directing treatment (3-4).
Additionally, EGFR expression has an impact on the course of treatment; the literature discusses how overexpression of EGFR leads to the failure of radiotherapy and chemotherapy with increased resistance to oncological treatment. EGFR expression can be detected even before the diagnosis of a primary laryngeal mass by using immunohistochemical analysis on the biopsy taken during the initial histopathological diagnosis (2).
Because of this, the goal of chemotherapy is to inhibit EGFR function. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are used to achieve the blockage, and these monoclonal antibodies’ main targets are to inhibit ligand binding, cause the degradation of some types of receptors, and activate the antitumor immune response (5).
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors’ main function is to prevent the phosphorylation of the EGFR. The combination of radiation and the monoclonal antibody cetuximab produced the best outcomes for head and neck cancers in their advanced stages (2).
Based on all of these facts, employing this biomarker may change how LSCC and associated lymph node metastases are diagnosed, categorised, and prognosed, based on the metastatic status indicated by the biomarker’s expression.
Our study aimed to determine and document the EGFR over-expression in laryngeal carcinoma primary tumor and in 1st echelon node in cases with clinically and radiologically N0 neck.