Frequent expression of a mutant epidermal growth factor receptor in multiple human tumors.
The epidermal growth factor receptor has received much interest as a target for various antineoplastic agents, but a complication is that many normal tissues also express this receptor. We have previously identified in human glial tumors an 801-bp in-frame deletion within the epidermal growth factor receptor gene that created a novel epitope at the junction. By using Western blot assays with a mutant-specific antibody as a rapid and sensitive means for detecting this alteration in primary human tumors, it was found that 57% (26 of 46) of high-grade and 86% (6 of 7) of low-grade glial tumors, but not normal brain, express this protein. This altered receptor was also present in 66% (4 of 6) of pediatric gliomas and 86% (6 of 7) of medulloblastomas, 78% (21 of 27) of breast carcinomas, and 73% (24 of 32) of ovarian carcinomas. The fact that this receptor is frequently found in tumors but not in normal tissue makes it an attractive candidate for various antitumor strategies.
Moscatello
D K
DK
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jefferson Cancer Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
Holgado-Madruga
M
M
Godwin
A K
AK
Ramirez
G
G
Gunn
G
G
Zoltick
P W
PW
Biegel
J A
JA
Hayes
R L
RL
Wong
A J
AJ
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors