title: c-erbB-2 oncogene expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.
abstract: The c-erbB-2 proto-oncogene encodes a transmembrane protein which is homologous to the epidermal growth factor receptor. This protein can be localized immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material using a monoclonal antibody NCL-CB11; positive membrane staining correlates with gene amplification and protein overexpression in breast cancer. Using this technique we have shown that only 2/26 (8%) of hepatocellular carcinomas, 0/10 (0%) of cholangiocarcinomas and 0/2 (0%) hepatoblastomas overexpressed c-erbB-2 as evidenced by membrane staining. Moreover c-erbB-2 mRNA was not detected in seven hepatocellular carcinomas examined by Northern blot analysis. c-erbB-2 overexpression is, therefore, unlikely to be contributing to the malignant phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Collier
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bassendine
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Burt
mesh_terms: D002759:Adenoma, Bile Duct / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human