Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in human brain metastases.
Biopsy specimens of human brain metastases were examined for amplification and expression of the proto-oncogene c-erbB1 (located on chromosome 7) encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Moreover, the tumour DNA was also examined for amplification of other cancer-related genes on this chromosome: the proto-oncogene c-met, the gene for platelet-derived growth factor A-chain, and the gene for plasminogen activator inhibitory type 1. All 18 brain metastases demonstrated positive binding of biotinylated EGF on cryosections. Three out of 18 metastases had amplification of the EGFR gene; the other chromosome-7 genes tested were not amplified. Thus, an increased EGFR gene expression seems to be a general finding in a wide range of carcinomas metastatic to the brain, whereas we found only occasional selective EGFR gene amplifications in single cases.
Torp
S H
SH
Institute of Cancer Research, Medical Technical Centre, Trondheim, Norway.
Helseth
E
E
Ryan
L
L
Stølan
S
S
Dalen
A
A
Unsgaard
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C075278:platelet-derived growth factor A; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019859:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met