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Oxford University Press, Neuro-Oncology, 10(15), p. 1278-1288, 2013

DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/not094

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Cells with intense EGFR staining and a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio are specific for infiltrative glioma: a useful marker in neuropathological practice.

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Background The differential diagnosis between infiltrative glioma (IG) and benign or curable glial lesions, such as gliosis, pilocytic astrocytoma, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor, ganglioglioma, or demyelinating disease, may be challenging for the pathologist because specific markers are lacking. Recently, we described a strong EGFR immunolabelling pattern in cells with a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio that enables the discrimination of low-grade IG from gliosis. The aim of this study was to extend our observation to high-grade glioma to assess whether EGFR expression pattern is of value in the discrimination of all IG from noninfiltrative glial lesions (NIG), including gliosis, benign tumors, and demyelinating disease. Methods One hundred one IG and 58 NIG were compared for immunohistochemical expression of EGFR with use of an antibody that recognizes an epitope in the extracellular domain of both EGFRwt and EGFRvIII. Highly EGFR-positive cells with a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio were isolated and further characterized. Results Cells with intense EGFR staining and a high nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio were significantly associated with the diagnosis of IG (P