Nuclear expression of the c-erbB-4/HER-4 growth factor receptor in invasive breast cancers.
The prevalence and sites of expression of the c-erbB-4 receptor have been determined by immunocytochemical staining in a series of 178 human breast cancers. Most tumors displayed cytoplasmic staining of variable intensity. When compared with adjacent normal tissue, 32 cases (18%) showed lower than normal expression, and 13 (7%) showed greater than normal expression. Nuclear immunoreactivity, confirmed by two different antibodies, was present in 87 cancers (49%) but was found in normal adjacent breast epithelial cells in <5% of cases. There were no significant associations with cytoplasmic or membrane immunoreactivity, but cases showing nuclear expression in >25% of cells were associated with good histological grade, epidermal growth factor receptor expression, c-erbB-3 positivity, cripto, amphiregulin, and transforming growth factor-alpha overexpression.
Srinivasan
R
R
Receptor Biology Laboratory, Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
Gillett
C E
CE
Barnes
D M
DM
Gullick
W J
WJ
D066258:Amphiregulin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001940:Breast / Q000737:chemistry; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009685:Nuclear Envelope / Q000737:chemistry; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000032:analysis; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4
C587848:AREG protein, human; D066258:Amphiregulin; D015415:Biomarkers; D066255:EGF Family of Proteins; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C070636:TDGF1 protein, human; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4