title: Expression of c-erbB-2 gene product in urinary bladder cancer.
abstract: Expression of the c-erbB-2 gene product and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) was investigated in 54 cases of human bladder cancer immunohistologically and by Western blot analysis. For detection of the c-erbB-2 product, two specific antibodies, a rabbit polyclonal antibody directed to the intracellular domain and a murine monoclonal antibody recognizing an epitope in the extracellular domain, were used. Seventeen cases of bladder cancer were stained by the anti-c-erbB-2 polyclonal antibody, while 20 cases were stained by the monoclonal antibody, with good correlation on both stainings (p less than 0.01). There were four c-erbB-2 positive cases in 26 G1 tumors, four in 15 G2 tumors, and nine in 13 G3 tumors. There were also eight erbB-2 positive cases in nine muscle-invasive tumors, nine of 45 superficial tumors, four of five with lymph node metastasis, and seven of 14 without metastasis, as revealed by staining with the polyclonal antibody. Thus, the c-erbB-2 gene product was more frequently expressed in high grade tumors (p less than 0.01), in high stage tumors (p less than 0.01), and nodal metastatic tumors (N.S. by Chi-square test). Twenty-two of the 54 tumors were stained by an anti-EGF-R monoclonal antibody, 528 IgG. The expression of EGF-R was independent of histological grading, tumor stage, and nodal status, and no correlation was observed between expression of the c-erbB-2 product and EGF-R. The c-erbB-2 product may be applicable as a tumor marker for evaluation of malignant potential, invasiveness, and probably metastatic potential of human bladder cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Oncology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanuki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hikage
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsuta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011506:Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors