title: Different expression patterns of KIT, EGFR, and HER-2 (c-erbB-2) oncoproteins between epithelial and mesenchymal components in uterine carcinosarcoma.
abstract: Uterine carcinosarcoma histologically comprises the components of epithelial and mesenchymal malignancies, and is known to be clinically highly aggressive. To reveal the significance of the expression of tyrosine-kinase-receptor-type oncoproteins in this tumor type, the incidence and distribution of the KIT, EGFR, and HER-2 (c-erbB-2) oncoproteins were immunohistochemically examined in 16 surgically resected cases. For 6 cases, the EGFR and HER-2 amplifications were also examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In the epithelial component, overexpressions of KIT, EGFR, and HER-2 were detected in 4 (25%), 5 (31%), and 9 (56%) cases, respectively, whereas these overexpressions in the mesenchymal component were detected in 6 (38%), 8 (50%), and 1 (6%) cases, respectively. KIT and EGFR were co-overexpressed in the mesenchymal component of 4 cases and in the epithelial component of 2 cases. However, HER-2 overexpression was mostly detected in the epithelial component only, and tended to occur independently of KIT and/or EGFR overexpression. By FISH, one of the 4 cases with HER-2 overexpression showed low-level gene amplification. In two cases with EGFR overexpression, the gain of EGFR alleles and/or polyploidization of chromosome 7 had occurred. The expression patterns of KIT, EGFR, and HER-2 differed between the epithelial and mesenchymal components, and the regulation of their expression appeared important in the acquisition of mesenchymal metaplasia in uterine carcinosarcoma. Structural and/or numerical alterations of chromosomes might be in part involved in EGFR and/or HER-2 overexpression in this tumor type.
authors: Department of Gynecology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, and Department of Pathology II, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa.
authors: Morio
authors: M
authors: Sawada
authors: Hitoshi
authors: H
authors: Tsuda
authors: Mikihiko
authors: M
authors: Kimura
authors: Sanshiro
authors: S
authors: Okamoto
authors: Tsunekazu
authors: T
authors: Kita
authors: Takahiro
authors: T
authors: Kasamatsu
authors: Takuro
authors: T
authors: Yamada
authors: Yoshihiro
authors: Y
authors: Kikuchi
authors: Hideo
authors: H
authors: Honjo
authors: Osamu
authors: O
authors: Matsubara
mesh_terms: D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D018211:Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery; D011123:Polyploidy; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases