Epidermal growth factor receptor expression in three different human endometrial cancer cell lines.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the current study was to establish the characteristics of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor in endometrial cell lines to determine the possible relation of EGF to endometrial cancer.


METHODS
Three different cell lines were used: RL95-2 (derived from a moderately differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma), HEC-I-A (from a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma), and KLE (from a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma). The binding of (125-I) EGF to these cell lines and the stimulatory effect of EGF on (3H) thymidine incorporation into DNA were examined.


RESULTS
EGF receptor was present in all three cell lines. The binding of 125-I-labeled EGF was saturable and of high affinity. Scatchard analysis of the competitive binding data for KLE, HEC-I-A, and RL95-2 revealed linear plots, indicating a single class of binding sites with almost identical equilibrium dissociation constants (0.34 nM, 0.23 nM, and 0.20 nM, respectively). Other peptides, such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I and II and insulin, did not compete for the receptor. RL95-2 cells bound significantly more EGF (P < 0.005) than did the HEC-I-A and KLE cell lines. EGF increased 3H-thymidine incorporation in all three cell lines.


CONCLUSIONS
Because EGF receptors are expressed by all three cell lines at markedly different levels and because EGF stimulates 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA in the three cell lines, the current study suggests that EGF may play a role in the promotion of growth endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Lelle
R J
RJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor 48109-0278.
Talavera
F
F
Gretz
H
H
Roberts
J A
JA
Menon
K M
KM
D002455:Cell Division; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*
D066246:ErbB Receptors