Biomedical subjects

Samir S Taneja

Publications and source records attributed to Samir S Taneja.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Loss of neutral endopeptidase and activation of protein kinase B (Akt) is associated with prostate cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is a cell-surface peptidase that can regulate the activation of Akt kinase through catalytic-dependent and independent mechanisms. NEP expression is absent in approximately 50% of prostate cancers. The authors investigated whether NEP loss in vivo would result in Akt phosphorylation and potentially contribute to prostate cancer progression by examining the interaction of NEP, Akt, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in a prostate xenograft model and in clinical specimens from patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: Using a tetracycline-repressible expression system to express NEP in a tumor animal xenograft model, the effects of NEP were tested on tumor growth, Akt phosphorylation, and PTEN expression. The clinical relevance of NEP, phosphorylated Akt, and PTEN protein expression also was investigated in 204 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy. RESULTS: The results indicated that the induction of NEP expression inhibited established xenograft tumor growth, diminished Akt phosphorylation, and increased PTEN protein levels. In humans, prostate cancers with complete loss of NEP expression were significantly more likely to express phosphorylated Akt (P = .02). Moreover, patients who had prostate cancers with concomitant loss of NEP and expression of phosphorylated Akt had an increased, independent risk of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence (P = .03). In the study cohort, loss of PTEN protein expression did not correlated significantly with phosphorylated Akt or with patients' clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this investigation demonstrated that NEP loss leads to Akt activation and contributes to the clinical progression of prostate cancer.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

A matched-cohort comparison of laparoscopic cryoablation and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for treating renal masses.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical outcomes of elderly patients with renal masses treated with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) or laparoscopic cryoablation (LCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All 15 patients who had LCA at the authors' institution between May 2003 and July 2005 were included, and compared with a matched cohort of 15 patients selected by patient age and tumour size, from a pre-existing database of 104 patients who had LPN from July 2002 to July 2005. The two groups were compared for gender, number of comorbidities, American Society of Anesthesiologists status (ASA), body mass index (BMI), baseline renal function and haematocrit, location and size of lesion, length of stay, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion rate, number and type of complications, conversion rate, and postoperative renal function and haematocrit. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in age, sex, BMI, ASA, baseline renal function, haematocrit, size and side of tumour, the percentage of exophytic tumours, and the likelihood of more than one comorbidity. Surgical outcomes between the groups were also relatively similar. The length of stay, creatinine and haematocrit levels after surgery did not differ between the groups. The LPN group had a significantly longer operation (248 vs 152 min, P < 0.001) and higher EBL (222 vs 59 mL, P = 0.007) than the LCA group, but only one patient required a transfusion and there was no discernible difference in discharge haematocrit values. No recurrences were detected in either group, with a similar mean follow-up of 9.8 and 11.9 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Although this matched-cohort comparison showed that LPN had a higher mean EBL, a longer operation and higher relative risk of open conversion, the overall clinical outcome was similar in terms of complication rates, length of stay and changes in creatinine and haematocrit after surgery. In this small retrospective evaluation, there was similar morbidity, treatment outcome and short-term efficacy with LCA and LPN. At present, although still experimental, LCA is a good choice for elderly patients with comorbidities precluding blood loss or renal ischaemia. However, in experienced hands, LPN is a preferred option for most elderly patients and should be considered when contemplating definitive treatment of renal masses.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Differences in clinicopathologic features of prostate cancer between black and white patients treated in the 1990s and 2000s.

OBJECTIVES: We have previously reported on the disparity in the clinicopathologic features of prostate cancer between black and white patients at our equal-access institution during the 1990s. The goal of this study was to determine whether the worse clinicopathologic features of prostate cancer in black patients have persisted in the 2000s. METHODS: We examined 362 men (224 black and 138 white) treated with radical prostatectomy at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in New York. We compared the clinicopathologic variables between 227 patients treated during the 1990s (group 1) and 135 treated in the 2000s (group 2). RESULTS: In group 1, black patients were significantly younger (P < 0.001) and had a greater prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level (P = 0.001), Gleason score (P = 0.005), and stage (P = 0.03) than white patients. In group 2, black patients continued to have significantly greater PSA levels (P = 0.04) and Gleason scores (P = 0.005) than white patients. Comparing only the black patients, those in group 2 had significantly lower PSA levels (P < 0.001) and stage (P = 0.03), but had worse Gleason scores (P = 0.03) than those in group 1. On multivariate analysis, black patients were significantly more likely to have a worse Gleason score (P = 0.005) than white patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data have demonstrated a narrowing of the differences in pathologic stage between black and white patients in the 2000s. However, black men have continued to have worse Gleason scores and greater PSA levels than white patients. These findings suggest that there may be different patterns of molecular alterations in black men that may contribute to the poor tumor differentiation. Additional research is underway to better characterize these underlying molecular mechanisms.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Impact of discordant radiologic and pathologic tumor size on renal cancer staging.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the discrepancy in the radiologic and pathologic size of renal cell carcinoma influences the final cancer stage. METHODS: Renal masses resected from December 1999 to September 2004 were identified using a pathologic database and compared by surgical accession number to an existing clinical renal tumor database to identify those T1 and T2 tumors for which radiologic and pathologic data were available. The tumor histologic features, maximal pathologic diameter, and maximal radiologic diameter were recorded. The percentage of tumor size reduction was then calculated using these data. RESULTS: Of the 236 renal cancers evaluated, 52% had regressed in size when comparing the pathologic and radiologic sizes. When stratified by histologic subtype, clear cell tumors regressed more often and to a greater degree than those that were chromophobe or papillary. Also, 15 organ-confined tumors were downstaged when comparing the maximal radiologic diameter and the maximal pathologic diameter, and 13 of these were clear cell tumors. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in kidney tumor size is commonly observed at surgical resection because of a loss of blood flow to the tumor. This tumor size reduction has an impact on the final pathologic stage in organ-confined tumors for which size is the only criterion. The greatest tumor size reduction, and most frequent downstaging, was observed for conventional (clear cell) tumors. We believe this may explain, in part, the worse stage-stratified outcomes for clear cell tumors compared with other tumor types. We propose that renal cancer staging should be determined from accurate measurement of the radiologic size, rather than the pathologic size.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Robot assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: initial experience.

PURPOSE: Advances in laparoscopy have made laparoscopic partial nephrectomy a technically feasible procedure but it remains challenging to even experienced laparoscopists. We hypothesized that robotic assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy may make this procedure more efficacious than the standard laparoscopic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with a mean age of 58 years and mean tumor size of 2.0 cm underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and another 10 with a mean age of 61 years and mean tumor size of 2.18 cm underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy, as performed by a team of 2 surgeons (MS and ST) between May 2002 and January 2004. Demographic data, intraoperative parameters and postoperative data were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient demographics between the 2 groups. Intraoperative data and postoperative outcomes were statistically similar. In the 10 patients who underwent robotic assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy there were 2 intraoperative complications. There was 1 conversion in the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is a safe and feasible procedure in patients with small exophytic masses. The robotic approach to laparoscopic partial nephrectomy does not offer any clinical advantage over conventional laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Toremifene--a promising therapy for the prevention of prostate cancer and complications of androgen deprivation therapy.

Deregulation of the estrogen axis in humans prompts a series of tissue-specific events. In the breast and prostate, alterations in estrogen signalling lead to genotypic and phenotypic molecular alterations that result in dysplastic cellular appearance, deregulated cell growth and carcinoma. In bone, decreased estrogen leads to increased osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption, decreased bone mineral density and a significant fracture risk. Toremifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that exerts pharmacological activity in the breast, bone and prostate. An intense interest in developing this agent for prostate cancer chemoprevention is based on the reduction of premalignant and malignant prostate lesions in a transgenic model of prostate cancer. Biological and clinical activity was demonstrated in Phase II trials by the prevention of progression to prostate cancer in men with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia and through suppression of bone turnover biomarkers and increased bone mineral density in men on androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

Androgen Antagonists↗

PubMed2006

Obesity and prostate cancer.

The relationship between obesity and prostate cancer is currently a hotly debated topic, but despite the number of publications devoted to the topic, the actual nature of the relationship remains uncertain. Obesity has been shown to have a direct relationship with the incidence of prostate cancer in a number of studies but an equal number of studies have shown no association. The relationship is further obscured with recent findings that obesity in younger obese men may actually be protective against prostate cancer. Confounding factors include the lack of correlation of body mass index (BMI) as a measure of central obesity and the lack of consistency in timing of BMI measurements, i.e. before or after diagnosis and in young or advanced adulthood. Evidence for increased BMI as a risk factor for prostate cancer is unclear, but less ambiguous is the mounting substantiation that obesity is associated with prognostically worse disease, poorer post-surgical outcomes and increased prostate cancer mortality, irregardless of margin status. From a biologic perspective, one can put forth a number of potential mechanisms by which obesity might promote prostate cancer and/or prostate cancer progression including; low levels of testosterone, increased levels of estrogen, co-existing diabetes or metabolic syndrome, increased circulating insulin-growth factor-one (IGF-1), increased levels of leptin, decreased levels of adiponectin and increased dietary saturated fats. Evidence for the association of these factors with prostate cancer are examined herein. The timing of serum measurements is crucial in elucidating whether these factors have causative influence on prostate cancer or rather are produced by the prostate cancer cells and are better understood as markers of disease. The interaction between obesity and prostate cancer is important to clarify because it will have impact on the prevention, prognostication and treatment of prostate cancer. Future study with careful attention to avoid the methodological pitfalls of the past need be accomplished to bear out the nature of the interaction of obesity and prostate cancer.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Prostate biopsy: targeting cancer for detection and therapy.

Despite improvements in cancer detection, prostate biopsy still lacks the ability to accurately map locations of cancer within the prostate. Improvements in prostate imaging may allow more accurate mapping of overall disease volume. Magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy allows improved specificity in detecting even small foci of disease within the peripheral zone. Improvements in MR-guided biopsy techniques may allow this technology to be adapted to therapeutics as well. Computer modeling of individual prostates serves as a means of designing optimized plans for prostate biopsy. The use of novel targeted biopsy schemes may allow an integration of available technologies in detection and localization of prostate cancer. Computer-directed needle biopsies based on anatomic landmarks within the prostate and computerized three-dimensional reconstruction of the gland may allow a highly reproducible means of identifying small foci of cancer, targeting them for therapy, and monitoring for recurrence. The TargetScan(R) system (Envisioneering Medical Technologies, St. Louis, MO) is the first technology to integrate available targeting methodologies in a systematic fashion.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Cell-specific regulation of androgen receptor phosphorylation in vivo.

The biological ramifications of phosphorylation of the androgen receptor (AR) are largely unknown. To examine the phosphorylation of AR at serine 213, a putative substrate for Akt, a phosphorylation site-specific antibody was generated. The use of this antibody indicated that AR Ser-213 is phosphorylated in vivo and that phosphorylation is tightly regulated in a cell type-specific manner. Furthermore, Ser-213 phosphorylation took place with rapid kinetics and was inhibited by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor LY294002. Phosphorylation occurred in response to R1881 and dihydrotestosterone but weakly if at all in response to testosterone. It did not occur in response to AR antagonists or growth factor stimulation in the absence of an AR agonist. Transcription assays using an AR-responsive reporter gene construct showed that activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibited transcription mediated by wild type AR but not that of a mutant AR variant (S213A), which could not be phosphorylated at Ser-213. By immunohistochemistry, the AR Ser(P)-213 antigen was detected in prostate epithelial but not stromal cells despite the fact that an antibody recognizing both phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated forms of AR demonstrates that AR is present in both cell types as expected. In fetal tissue the AR-Ser(P)-213 antigen was present in epithelial cells of the urogenital sinus when endogenous androgen levels were high and activated Akt was prevalent, but absent at a later stage of development when endogenous androgen levels were low and Akt activation was minimal. Immunoreactivity was evident in differentiated cells lining the lumen of the urogenital sinus but not in rapidly dividing, Ki67 positive cells within the developing prostate or stromal tissue, suggesting that site-specific phosphorylation of AR Ser-213 by cellular kinases occurs in a non-proliferating cellular milieu.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Androgen receptor mutations identified in prostate cancer and androgen insensitivity syndrome display aberrant ART-27 coactivator function.

The transcriptional activity of the androgen receptor (AR) is modulated by interactions with coregulatory molecules. It has been proposed that aberrant interactions between AR and its coregulators may contribute to diseases related to AR activity, such as prostate cancer and androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS); however, evidence linking abnormal receptor-cofactor interactions to disease is scant. ART-27 is a recently identified AR N-terminal coactivator that is associated with AR-mediated growth inhibition. Here we analyze a number of naturally occurring AR mutations identified in prostate cancer and AIS for their ability to affect AR response to ART-27. Although the vast majority of AR mutations appeared capable of increased activation in response to ART-27, an AR mutation identified in prostate cancer (AR P340L) and AIS (AR E2K) show reduced transcriptional responses to ART-27, whereas their response to the p160 class of coactivators was not diminished. Relative to the wild-type receptor, less ART-27 protein associated with the AR E2K substitution, consistent with reduced transcriptional response. Surprisingly, more ART-27 associated with AR P340L, despite the fact that the mutation decreased transcriptional activation in response to ART-27. Our findings suggest that aberrant AR-coactivator association interferes with normal ART-27 coactivator function, resulting in suppression of AR activity, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of diseases related to alterations in AR activity, such as prostate cancer and AIS.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2005

Prostate-specific antigen velocity accurately predicts response to salvage radiotherapy in men with biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity (PSAV), used as a selection criterion for salvage radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy (RP), predicts the likelihood of response to RT in men with biochemical relapse. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 48 patients who had undergone salvage RT for biochemical relapse after RP. All men were followed up with serial PSA measurements for a minimum of 6 months from their initial PSA recurrence, and RT was only offered to those patients with a serum PSA level remaining at less than 1.0 ng/mL. The response to RT was defined as maintenance of a PSA level of less than 0.1 ng/mL. The pathologic and clinical parameters, including PSAV, were examined to determine their individual ability to predict the response to RT. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients, 30 had maintained a PSA level of less than 0.1 ng/mL at a median follow-up of 16 months. The PSAV was strongly predictive of the likelihood of a response to salvage RT. The median relapse-free survival time for patients with a PSAV of less than 0.035 ng/mL/mo was 28 months compared with 16 months for patients with a PSAV greater than 0.035 ng/mL/mo. All other parameters tested, including Gleason score, seminal vesicle invasion, extracapsular extension, and margin status, were not predictive of the likelihood of a response to RT. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, PSAV accurately predicted the likelihood of response to salvage RT in men with biochemical relapse after RP. No other pathologic parameters predicted the likelihood of response to RT. Using PSAV as a sole selection criterion for salvage RT after RP may allow improvement in the historically low rates of durable response.

Disease-Free Survival↗

PubMed2005

Renal tumor with associated venous tumor thrombus prolapsing through tricuspid valve during diastole.

We describe the case of a 76-year-old man with a renal cell carcinoma thrombus extending into the right atrium, prolapsing across the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle during diastole, and producing sufficient portal venous pressure to result in intestinal venous thrombosis and necrosis of the upper gastrointestinal mucosa. The related published studies are reviewed and discussed.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Multifocal renal oncocytoma in a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau mutation.

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is a rare genetic disease with a lifetime risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma in approximately 70% of cases. We present a case of a 63-year-old man with bilateral, multifocal renal masses. Genetic testing results were consistent with a VHL deletion. The patient had no other disease manifestations consistent with VHL. The patient underwent staged bilateral nephron-sparing procedures. Pathology of all renal masses revealed oncocytoma. To our knowledge, we describe the first reported case of multiple renal oncocytomas in a male patient with a germline VHL mutation.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic↗

PubMed2005

Robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: the NYU technique.

The introduction of the daVinci surgical system has changed the way both surgeon and patient view radical prostatectomy. We hypothesized that the same theoretical and tangible benefits may be realized when employing the system for partial nephrectomy. This paper reviews our technique of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RALPN) utilizing the daVinci surgical system. Intraoperative hilar clamping is utilized in all cases. With the daVinci system, the tumor is excised with cold scissors, biopsies are taken from the base for frozen-section study, sutures are placed at the base, Gelfoam/fibrin glue is activated in the defect, a Surgicel bolster is laid in the defect, and mattress sutures are placed prior to releasing the clamp. After performing 12 RALPNs, it appears this technique is safe, feasible, and reproducible both for small exophytic masses and for deeper lesions involving the collecting system. A RALPN requires two surgeons, both well versed in laparoscopic and robotic techniques.

Biopsy↗

PubMed2005

Ultrasensitive serum prostate specific antigen nadir accurately predicts the risk of early relapse after radical prostatectomy.

PURPOSE: Ultrasensitive prostate specific antigen (PSA) assays allow a lower limit of detection (less than 0.01 ng/ml) than standard PSA assays. In this study we examined the ability of ultrasensitive PSA nadir to predict relapse after radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 906 men treated with RP were followed with PSA measurements at 3, 6 and 12 months, and yearly thereafter. Of the 906 men 545 (60%) with a PSA nadir of less than 0.01 ng/ml or at least 3 followup ultrasensitive PSA measurements underwent analysis and stratification by PSA nadir. Biochemical relapse was defined as 2 consecutive increasing post-nadir PSA measurements of 0.1 ng/ml or greater. The ability of ultrasensitive PSA nadir to predict relapse was assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: At a mean followup of 3.1 years 54 of 545 men (9.9%) experienced biochemical relapse with a mean time to relapse of 25.2 months. Relapse rates in men with a PSA nadir of less than 0.01 (423), 0.01 (75), 0.02 (19) and 0.04 or greater ng/ml (28) were 4%, 12%, 16% and 89%, respectively. Men with a nadir of less than 0.01 ng/ml had a significantly lower relapse rate than men with a nadir of 0.01 (p <0.01), 0.02 (p <0.025) or 0.04 or greater ng/ml (p <0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a nadir of 0.01 (p <0.05), 0.02 (p <0.05) and 0.04 or greater ng/ml (p <0.01) independently predicted an increased risk of biochemical relapse compared to a nadir of less than 0.01 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasensitive PSA nadir accurately predicts the risk of early biochemical relapse following RP. Men who achieve a nadir of less than 0.01 ng/ml have a low likelihood of early relapse. Higher nadir points may identify candidates for early adjuvant or salvage therapies.

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMed2005

Serum levels of shed Her2/neu protein in men with prostate cancer correlate with disease progression.

PURPOSE: We determined the association between serum levels of shed Her-2/neu protein and disease progression in men with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum from 279 patients enrolled in a prospective serum bank and database at New York University Medical Center was analyzed using the Food and Drug Administration approved Immuno-1 Her-2/neu assay. Patients were classified by the Prostate-Specific Antigen Working Group model into 5 groups, namely group 1-no evidence of cancer in 60, group 2-clinically localized disease in 67, group 3-prostate specific antigen increasing after therapy and no clinical metastases in 77, group 4-clinical metastases and castration sensitivity in 42, and group 5-clinical metastases and castration resistance in 33. A cutoff of 14 ng/ml for normal serum Her-2/neu was established based on the 95th order statistic in group 1. RESULTS: Of 279 patients 37 (13.3%) had increased serum Her-2/neu, that is 5%, 11.9%, 10.4%, 16.7% and 33.3% in groups 1 to 5, respectively. There was a significant difference between patients with (groups 4 and 5) and without (groups 2 and 3) clinical metastases (p = 0.006). In group 5 patients serum Her-2/neu was significantly higher than in group 2 patients (p <0.02). The risk of cause specific death increased significantly with each unit increase in serum Her-2/neu (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased serum Her-2/neu correlates with the presence of metastatic disease and it may indicate an increased risk of death in patients with castrate, metastatic prostate cancer. The detection of serum Her-2/neu is a minimally invasive alternative to tumor sampling for identifying potential candidates for anti-Her-2/neu treatment strategies. Further studies are needed to optimize this assay for application in the clinical setting.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Drug therapies for eradicating high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in the prevention of prostate cancer.

High-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is a precursor to invasive prostate cancer observed as an isolated entity in a growing subset of men undergoing prostate biopsy. The presence of HGPIN predicts an increased risk of 1) coexisting occult prostate cancer at baseline and 2) delayed progression to prostate cancer. As such, men with HGPIN represent a population at high risk for the development of prostate cancer. Because the current recommended therapy is observation and delayed-interval biopsies until cancer develops, a well-tolerated therapeutic agent capable of interrupting the progression of HGPIN to cancer is highly desirable. Given the known cancer-stimulatory effects of estrogens in the prostate, the use of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) to provide an antiestrogen effect represents a novel strategy for prostate cancer prevention. Recent phase II data from trials using toremifene in the treatment of men with HGPIN validate the use of SERMs as a rational and provocative strategy for the prevention of prostate cancer.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

Racial disparity of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a critical role in prostate cancer (PC) signal transduction and is the target of a novel class of anticancer agents. Despite recent reports of interethnic variation in response to EGFR inhibitors, limited information exists regarding differences in expression of EGFR in PC patients. This has therapeutic relevance because a better understanding of the molecular basis underlying the ethnic variability will help in the design of individualized treatment regimens using EGFR inhibitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated EGFR expression in a well-characterized cohort of PC patients to determine the association between EGFR expression and race. Tumor tissues from 202 radical prostatectomies performed between 1990 and 2000 at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (New York, NY) were studied (142 African Americans, 60 whites; median age, 67 years; stage T2, n = 130; stage > or = T3, n = 72; Gleason score < 7, n = 110; Gleason score > or = 7, n = 92). Membrane-specific EGFR expression was evaluated immunohistochemically. RESULTS: EGFR overexpression, defined as complete membrane staining in more than 10% of tumor cells, was observed in 75 of 202 patients (37%). There was a significant association between EGFR overexpression and African American race (P = .0006), higher pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA; P = .02), and stage (P = .02), but not Gleason score (P = .33). The association between African American race and EGFR overexpression remained significant in a multivariate model after controlling for grade, stage, and pretreatment PSA simultaneously (P = .003). CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that race contributes significantly to variability of EGFR expression in prostate cancer. Racial background may have an impact on the design of clinical trials to test the efficacy of anti-EGFR agents.

Adult↗