Receptor protein tyrosine kinase EphB4 is up-regulated in colon cancer.
BACKGROUND
We have used commercially available cDNA arrays to identify EphB4 as a gene that is up-regulated in colon cancer tissue when compared with matched normal tissue from the same patient.


RESULTS
Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the expression of the EphB4 gene has shown that its expression is increased in 82% of tumour samples when compared with the matched normal tissue from the same patient. Using immunohistochemistry and Western analysis techniques with an EphB4-specific antibody, we also show that this receptor is expressed in the epithelial cells of the tumour tissue and either not at all, or in only low levels, in the normal tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The results presented here supports the emerging idea that Eph receptors play a role in tumour formation and suggests that further elucidation of this signalling pathway may identify useful targets for cancer treatment therapies.
Stephenson
S A
SA
Department of Haematology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville Rd, Woodville, South Australia, Australia. sally.stephenson@eudoramail.com
Slomka
S
S
Douglas
E L
EL
Hewett
P J
PJ
Hardingham
J E
JE