title: Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor in astrocytic tumours is specifically associated with glioblastoma multiforme.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor and its receptor (EGFR) constitute an important and well-characterized mitogenic system in various ectodermal tissues including glial cells. Over-expression of the EGFR due to gene amplification has been reported in primary brain tumours of glial origin. Using a monoclonal antibody to the EGFR and immunohistochemical analysis, we examined the expression and distribution of EGFR in 103 astrocytic tumours. In addition, selected tumours were studied by Western blotting using a polyclonal antibody to EGFR and by Southern blot analysis. Glioblastomas (WHO grade IV) showed EGFR expression in 37% of cases, whereas pilocytic (WHO grade I), low-grade (WHO grade II) or anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) were invariably EGFR negative. Generally, there was a close correlation between the presence of EGFR gene amplification and over-expression of receptor protein. Different patterns of immunoreactive cells and significant intratumour heterogeneity of EGFR expression were observed in glioblastomas. The specific association of EGFR over-expression with glioblastoma may provide a useful diagnostic tool for distinguishing anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) and glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Agosti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leuthold
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gullick
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Yasargil
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Wiestler
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors