title: ErbB4 is downregulated in renal cell carcinoma--a quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor family.
abstract: In the present study the authors evaluated the expression of the EGFR family members ErbB2-4 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Thirty-one RCCs were examined for gene expression of ErbB2-4 mRNA by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. For eight of the patients samples of nonneoplastic kidney cortex were also evaluated. Expression of ErbB4 mRNA was analysed in the eight matched tumour and kidney cortex samples by isoform-specific real-time RT-PCR analysis. ErbB4 protein expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry. In summary the results showed that ErbB2 mRNA was downregulated in conventional (clear cell) RCC; ErbB3 mRNA levels were low and heterogeneous in both tumours and kidney cortex; ErbB4 mRNA and protein were strongly downregulated in conventional and papillary RCC. Thus, ErbB2 and ErbB4 are not likely to be oncogenes in the majority of RCCs; instead, the observed downregulations suggest that these receptors might function as tumour suppressors in RCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Sciences, Oncology, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. marcus.thomasson@onkologi.umu.se
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomasson
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hedman
authors.forename: Teemu T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Junttila
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Elenius
authors.forename: Börje
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ljungberg
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henriksson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C587689:ERBB4 protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D066247:Receptor, ErbB-4