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.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Kusunoki-cho, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. yamatetu@med.kobe-u.ac.jp
Tetsuji
T
Yamamoto
Toshihiro
T
Akisue
Takashi
T
Marui
Tetsuya
T
Nakatani
Teruya
T
Kawamoto
Toshiaki
T
Hitora
Keiko
K
Nagira
Ikuo
I
Fujita
Keiji
K
Matsumoto
Masahiro
M
Kurosaka
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