Expression of betacellulin, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor and epiregulin in human malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
BACKGROUND
Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), betacellulin (BTC) and epiregulin (EPR) are members of the EGF system and involved in the cell growth of various epithelial malignancies. There have been no reports on the HB-EGF, BTC and EPR expression in mesenchymal malignancies of fibrohistiocytic origin including malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH).


METHODS
We investigated the expression of HB-EGF, BTC, EPR and EGF-receptor (EGF-R) in 43 human MFH tissue samples using immunohistochemical techniques.


RESULTS
Positive immuno-reactivity for HB-EGF, BTC, EPR and EGF-R was identified in 28 (65%), 7 (16%), 43 (100%) and 36 (84%) out of the 43 MFH cases analyzed, respectively. Coexpression of HB-EGF/BTC, BTC/EPR and HB-EGF/EPR was observed in 6 (14%), 7 (16%) and 28 (65%) of the MFHs, respectively. Coexpression of HB-EGF/EGF-R, BTC/EGF-R and EPR/EGF-R was observed in 25 (58%), 6 (14%) and 36 (84%) of the MFHs, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These results revealed that HB-EGF, BTC and EPR are expressed not only by epithelial tumor cells, but also by MFH cells. It is suggested that HB-EGF and EPR might be more important tumor growth regulators of MFH through autocrine or paracrine pathways, when compared with BTC.
Yamamoto
Tetsuji
T
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Kusunoki-cho, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. yamatetu@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Akisue
Toshihiro
T
Marui
Takashi
T
Nakatani
Tetsuya
T
Kawamoto
Teruya
T
Hitora
Toshiaki
T
Nagira
Keiko
K
Fujita
Ikuo
I
Matsumoto
Keiji
K
Kurosaka
Masahiro
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D066259:Betacellulin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D066260:Epiregulin; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D018219:Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
C587851:BTC protein, human; D066259:Betacellulin; C587880:EREG protein, human; D066260:Epiregulin; C587883:HBEGF protein, human; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors