title: Frequent expression of a mutant epidermal growth factor receptor in multiple human tumors.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Jefferson Cancer Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Moscatello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holgado-Madruga
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Godwin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramirez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gunn
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Zoltick
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Biegel
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D066246:ErbB Receptors