Objective To analyze the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) proteins in gastric mucosa tissues of patients with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and their clinical significance.

Methods A total of 183 patients with chronic gastritis who visited Handan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from March 2022 to December 2023 were selected as the study subjects, including 97 patients with chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNAG) (CNAG group) and 86 patients with CAG (CAG group). Clinical data of the study subjects were collected. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of EGFR and PTEN proteins in gastric mucosa tissues of the two groups. The relationship between the expression of EGFR and PTEN proteins in gastric mucosa tissues of CAG patients and their clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was employed to screen for factors influencing poor prognosis in CAG patients.

Results The proportion of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-infected patients and the positive expression rate of EGFR in the CAG group were higher than those in the CNAG group, while the positive expression rate of PTEN was lower than that in the CNAG group, with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The expression of EGFR and PTEN proteins was closely related to dysplasia, Hp infection, and good prognosis in CAG patients (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that positive EGFR expression was a risk factor affecting the prognosis of CAG patients, while positive PTEN expression was a protective factor affecting the prognosis of CAG patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusion In the gastric mucosa tissues of CAG patients, EGFR protein expression is positive, and PTEN protein expression is negative, which is related to intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, Hp infection, and prognosis of the gastric mucosa.