Particularly salient are the following: (1) gene amplification is related to increasing grade of human glioma malignancy and occurs in approximately 40% of the most common and most malignant variety of glioma, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), (2) by far the most commonly amplified gene in glioblastomas is the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene, which is amplified in about one third of GBMs, (3) a small percentage of GBMs amplify N-myc or the novel sequence gli, (4) the EGFR gene is rearranged in at least half of gliomas in which it is amplified, and (5) EGFR gene rearrangement results in external domain deletions that yield truncated EGF receptors.
To elucidate the possible roles of proto-oncogenes and growth factors in estrogen-regulated cell proliferation of human breast and gynecologic cancers, we have determined the gene expressions of c-myc, transforming growth factor-alpha and beta 1 (TGF-alpha, beta 1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a number of these cancer cell lines by using an intron-Differential (ID) RNA/PCR method, which differentially identifies the amplified cDNA from PCR products of genomic DNA contaminants.
EGFR gene amplification was detected in 16 of the 32 malignancy grade IV gliomas (glioblastoma) studied (50%), but only in 1 of 30 gliomas of lesser malignancy grade (I-III).
TGFa mRNA was detected in a similar proportion of cancers as in neoplastic breast tissues but the TGFa receptor EGFR mRNA was detected in only 55% of breast cancers but in all non-neoplastic breast tissue tested.
Increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor linked with abnormalities of chromosome 7 has been described in a number of malignancies, but not in premalignant lesions.
These findings suggest that increased ERBB3 expression, as in the case of epidermal growth factor receptor and ERBB2, may play a role in some human malignancies.
The close relationship between aneuploidy, EGF-R positive expression, node involvement, and tumor invasion suggests that these parameters may be indicators of high malignancy.
The induction of EGFR and A20 by LMP1 may be an important component of EBV infection in epithelial cells and could contribute to the development of epithelial malignancies such as NPC.
Many studies have reported the increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in various human malignancies and its association with the biologic behavior of the tumors.
Here we used retroviral transfer of such a mutant receptor (de 2-7 EGFR) into glioblastoma cells expressing normal endogenous receptors to test whether the mutant receptor was able to augment their growth and malignancy.
Specimens from 22 patients with tumors of borderline malignancy (11 serous and 11 mucinous tumors), 12 patients with benign tumors, and 16 patients with invasive ovarian carcinomas were evaluated for expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER-2/neu, PTP1B, and p53 by immunohistochemical techniques.
The tyrosine kinase receptor family, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), c-erbB2 and, more recently, the c-erbB3, has been recognized as being of particular importance in many human malignancies.
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) family has been increasingly recognized as an important component in the control of normal cell proliferation and the pathogenesis of cancer.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in various malignancies including carcinoma of the breast, lung, esophagus, cervix, and stomach.