EGFR Polysomy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Thyroid. Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Pharmaceuticals targeting EGFR may help to provide the rationale for an additional, novel therapeutic option for this rare tumor, especially when other therapeutic options have been exhausted.

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid: Case report and systematic review of the literature

“…Another theory assumes that squamous metaplasia of the follicular epithelium might develop due to the chronic inflammation in thyroiditis (e.g. Hashimoto thyroiditis) [27]. Our review shows 8 cases out of 45 with a lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid next to squamous cell carcinoma, diagnosed as chronic thyreoidits.…”

“…Some 17 publications with 48 cases without complete work-up, including CT-scan, panendoscopy, immunohistochemistry and double citations were excluded [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22]. Finally, 35 papers and ours reporting on 50 patients were available for analysis [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34], [35], [36], [37], [38], [39], [40], [41], [42], [43], [44], [45], [46], [47], [48], [49], [50], [51], [52], [53], [54], [55], [56], [57], [58].

Fig. 2The flow chart of identified studies.

…”

Squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid: a unique type of cancer in World Health Organization Classification

“…All the primary thyroid squamous cell carcinomas tested in the literature showed positivity to cytokeratin 5/6 (14/14). On the other hand, cytokeratin 10/13 was negative in the six cases tested by Lam et al (2001a) and Bonetti et al (2010). It is worth noting that cytokeratin 10/13 could be positive in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (Lam et al 2001b) as well as squamous cell carcinoma from upper aerodigestive tract squamous cell carcinoma, such as oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (Lam et al 2001a).…”

“…EGF receptor (EGFR) alterations are common in human cancers (Tomas et al 2014). EGFR mutations or amplifications were not identified in two primary squamous cell carcinomas (Bonetti et al 2010, Chu et al 2016 or in a papillary thyroid carcinoma with co-existing squamous carcinoma component (Acosta & Pins 2016). Nevertheless, Bonetti and colleagues have detected overexpression of EGFR protein and EGFR polysomy in two patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid (Bonetti et al 2010).…”

Progress in diagnosing and treating thyroid squamous cell carcinoma under the 5th edition of WHO classification

“…EGFR is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor, which is overexpressed in PSCCT. Therefore, drugs targeting EGFR positivity are also a potential treatment modality for PSCCT patients ( 75 ).…”