title: Prevalence of C-erbb3 expression in squamous-cell carcinomas of the cervix as determined by the monoclonal-antibody rtj2.
abstract: The c-erbB3 protein is a member of the type 1 tyrosine kinase growth factor receptor family. We report on the production and characterisation of a monoclonal antibody, RTJ2, raised against a synthetic peptide from the cytoplasmic domain of the molecule. The antibody is specific for c-erbB3 protein as determined by Western blotting, immunoprecipitation and immunocytochemistry. Using this monoclonal antibody we have evaluated the prevalence of expression of the c-erbB3 protein in 72 squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix. 17 of the 72 (23.6%) tumours were found to overexpress c-erbB3 protein relative to the levels seen in the normal epithelium. Overexpression was not correlated with stage, grade or histologic subtype of the tumours. The high incidence of c-erbB3 overexpression relative to the normal tissue suggests a possible role for c-erbB3 in the oncogenesis of cervical epithelium.
authors.affiliation: HAMMERSMITH HOSP,ONCOL UNIT,IMPERIAL CANC RES FUND,LONDON W12 0NN,ENGLAND. CANC INST WIA,MADRAS 600020,TAMIL NADU,INDIA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rajkumar
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Majhi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Malligarjuna
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gullick