Prognostic significance of co-expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and epidermal growth factor receptor in breast cancer patients.
The expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was examined by immunocytochemical and radioreceptor assays in 115 patients with primary breast cancer. In 48 of 115 patients (42%), the assays were found to be positive for the expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, and, in 44 of 115 (35%) patients, the assays were positive for the expression of EGFR. There was no correlation between the expression of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and EGFR. Clinical survey demonstrated that both c-erbB-2 oncoprotein expression and EGFR expression have independent prognostic values. Furthermore, when patients were divided into three groups on the basis of the expression of both c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and EGFR, those who were found to be positive for the expression of both c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and EGFR showed a worse prognosis than other groups. These results suggest that the combination of the expression of both c-erbB-2 oncoprotein and EGFR may be important in selecting patients who have a poor prognosis.
Department of Surgery, Hiroshima University, Japan.
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A
Osaki
M
M
Toi
H
H
Yamada
H
H
Kawami
K
K
Kuroi
T
T
Toge
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen