Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) Receptor-Ligand Based Molecular Staging Predicts Prognosis in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Partly Due to Deregulated EGF- Induced Amphiregulin Expression

Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its ligands is associated with poor prognosis and chemoresistance in many carcinoma types, but its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unclear. Our aim was to clarify whether mRNA expression of EGFR-ligands was linked to prognosis and cisplatin resistance, and if so, which ligand was most important and how was the expression regulated.