title: Expression of c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 proteins in papillary thyroid carcinomas.
abstract: c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 protein expression was analyzed using immunohistochemistry in 138 fresh-frozen thyroid tissue samples from 106 patients, including 56 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Increased expression of c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 proteins was observed in papillary carcinomas compared to nonneoplastic thyroid tissue. No amplifications of the c-erbB-3 and c-erbB-4 genes were detected. Coexisting overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor, c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3, and c-erbB-4 was demonstrated in 36 (64%) of 56 papillary thyroid carcinomas. These findings suggest a common regulatory mechanism for the type I (epidermal growth factor receptor-related) receptors in papillary thyroid carcinomas and provide numerous possibilities for functional receptor interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Gade Institute, University of Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Haugen
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Akslen
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Varhaug
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lillehaug
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000737:chemistry*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis; D006042:Goiter; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3