title: Transforming growth factor-alpha, epidermal growth factor receptor, and proliferating potential in benign and malignant gliomas.
abstract: Surgical specimens from six benign and 16 malignant human gliomas were investigated immunohistochemically to correlate the degree of malignancy, the distribution of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, and the potential for cell proliferation using monoclonal antibodies to TGF-alpha, EGF receptor, and Ki-67. Fourteen (88%) of the malignant gliomas and one (17%) of the benign gliomas were found to be positive for TGF-alpha, and 14 (88%) of the malignant gliomas and two (33%) of the benign gliomas expressed EGF receptor. The proliferation index with Ki-67 was 18.8% +/- 8.1% (mean +/- standard deviation) in malignant gliomas and 1.9% +/- 1.8% in benign gliomas. In general, cells positive for EGF receptor and Ki-67 were randomly distributed throughout the tumor tissue, and cells positive for TGF-alpha tended to be clustered without obvious relationship to areas of necrosis or blood vessels. In some tumors, cells positive for TGF-alpha, EGF receptor, and Ki-67 were associated in a focal distribution. The more frequent expression of TGF-alpha and EGF receptor in the highly proliferative malignant gliomas is compatible with a role for TGF-alpha and EGF receptor in the induction or stimulation of malignant gliomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruno
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kovach
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yanagihara
mesh_terms: D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis*; D005910:Glioma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D066246:ErbB Receptors