Growth factor receptor and related oncogene determination in mesenchymal tumors.
BACKGROUND
Sarcoma are rare malignant neoplasms that originate from a mesenchymal cell line. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) has been identified in these malignant neoplasms by immunohistochemical techniques.


METHODS
This investigation has evaluated the gene amplification and expression of EGF-R and the homologous oncogene c-erbB-2 in soft tissue and osseous sarcomas by Southern and northern blot analysis.


RESULTS
Amplification of EGF-R and c-erbB-2 was identified in 2 of 117 (1.7%) and 6 of 105 (5.7%) of the sarcomas, respectively. Increased expression of EGF-R and c-erbB-2 was identified in 21 of 43 (49%) and 35 of 94 (37%) sarcomas, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of these two genes in sarcomas appears to occur independently and not be associated with tumor histologic characteristics, grade, size, DNA content, or proliferative activity.
Duda
R B
RB
Division of Surgical Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215.
Cundiff
D
D
August
C Z
CZ
Wagman
L D
LD
Bauer
K D
KD
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases