c-kit (CD117) expression in human tumors and its prognostic value: an immunohistochemical analysis.
c-kit functions as a tyrosine kinase receptor and represents a target for small molecule kinase inhibitors. The expression pattern for c-kit was studied in different human tumor types to their correlation with prognosis. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 282 patients were analyzed immunohistochemically for c-kit expression. Survival and follow-up data were available from 192/282 (68%) patients. c-kit immunopositivity was found in 62/282 (22%) cases. c-kit expression was found in 14/83 (17%) colorectal cancers, in 13/62 (21%) breast cancers, in 7/20 sarcomas (35%), in 5/14 (36%) renal cell carcinomas, in 2/12 ovarian cancers (17%) and in 2/12 (17%) hepatocellular carcinomas. We found no significant correlation between c-kit expression and prognosis although a trend to a worse prognosis in patients with c-kit positive tumors could be observed. Expression of c-kit was found in tumor samples with varying intensities and infrequently.
Medinger
Michael
M
Tumor Biology Center, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. MedingerM@uhbs.ch
Kleinschmidt
Manuela
M
Mross
Klaus
K
Wehmeyer
Barbara
B
Unger
Clemens
C
Schaefer
Hans-Eckart
HE
Weber
Renate
R
Azemar
Marc
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D055815:Young Adult
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit