Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in non-affected and tumorous mammary tissue of female dogs

Summary Epidermal growth factor (EGFR), oestrogen (ER), and progestin (PR) receptor concentrations were determined by radioligand binding assay in non-affected mammary tissues (n = 13) and benign (n = 11) and primary/locally recurrent malignant proliferative mammary lesions (n = 45) and metastases (n = 19) in 65 female dogs.The number of specimens expressing EGFR was not significantly different among these tissues, but EGFR concentration was lower in metastases (P = 0.02) than in benign or primary/locally recurrent malignant lesions not mixed with non-affected mammary tissue. The presence of non-affected mammary tissue in primary cancer specimens was noticed as a factor that may influence results of receptor measurements. No relation was found between the expression of EGFR and that of ER or PR in non-affected or in tumorous mammary tissues.It was concluded that in the dog mammary gland EGFR expression is not associated with conditions of steroid receptor absence or biological agressiveness of neoplastic growth.     

Expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor compared with that of epidermal growth factor receptor and erbB-2 in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) was performed in human endometrial carcinomas from 18 patients and in normal proliferative and secretory endometrium. The level of immunostaining was correlated with the clinico-pathological characteristics of the endometrial carcinoma patients and with the parallel expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and erbB-2. The results showed that KGFR expression increased with the stage of the tumor and that the simultaneous overexpression of the three growth factor receptors appeared to be related to the depth of myometrial invasion. Taken together, these observations suggest that KGFR may represent an additional prognostic indicator in endometrial cancer.     

Expression of c-erbb-2 protein and epidermal growth factor receptor in endometrial carcinomas correlation with clinicopathologic and sex steroid receptor status

Background. The c-erbB-2 (HER-2/neu) protein is a membrane glycoprotein growth factor receptor showing molecular homology with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In endometrial carcinomas, little is known about the relationship between the expression of c-erbB-2 protein and that of EGFR. Methods. The immunohistochemical reactivity of monoclonal antibodies against both of these proteins was examined in 34 endometrial carcinomas, and the presence or absence of correlation with the clinicopathologic features or with the immunohistochemical expression of sex steroid receptors (estrogen receptor [ER] and progesterone receptor [PR]) was analyzed. Results. Of the 34 patients, 22(64.7%) had c-erbB-2 protein-positive and EGFR-negative tumor, and 8 (23.5%) had tumor positivity for both proteins. Four patients had tumors negative for both proteins. ER or PR positivity was found in 24 (70.6%) of the 34 patients. Intense immunostaining for c-erbB-2 protein was found in 5 (14.7%) of the 34 patients but was not correlated with the stage or grade of differentiation in endometrial carcinoma. However, expression of EGFR in addition to c-erbB-2 protein was more frequently observed with advancing stage of disease and was inversely correlated with the grade of differentiation and with the expression of ER or PR of the tumor. Conclusion. The expression of EGFR, in addition to that of c-erbB-2 protein, is an important event that presumably is linked with progression or with a poorly differentiated state of endometrial carcinomas.     

p27 kipl蛋白与雌、孕激素受体在子宫内膜组织中的表达及其意义

 目的　探讨 p2 7kipl、雌激素受体 (ER)与孕激素受体 (PR)在子宫内膜癌中的表达及意义。方法　用免疫组化法检测 6 6例子宫内膜癌、2 9例子宫内膜非典型增生病变和 31例正常子宫内膜组织中p2 7kipl蛋白及其癌组织中ER和PR的表达。结果　在癌组织中p2 7kipl的表达率为 5 3.0 % ,明显低于非典型增生病变的 75 .8%和正常子宫内膜的 87.1% ,并与其分级有关 ;ER和PR的表达与p2 7kipl相似。结论　p2 7kipl与此癌的发展和恶性程度有关 ,这对其治疗和预后有参考价值。     

端粒酶hTERT在子宫内膜癌中的表达及意义探讨

目的　探讨端粒酶hTERT基因蛋白表达与子宫内膜癌发生发展的关系及对内膜癌诊断、预后的临床意义。方法　采用免疫组化方法对 33例子宫内膜癌、36例绝经期子宫内膜及 36例子宫内膜增生过长标本进行端粒酶hTERT、雌激素受体ER及孕激素受体PR检测 ,同时与正常增殖期 ,分泌期子宫内膜进行对照。结果　hTERT在子宫内膜癌中的表达强度明显高于其他内膜病变 ,有显著性差异 (P<0 .0 5 ) ;hTERT在子宫内膜癌中的表达与肌层浸润及临床分期呈正相关 ;与病理分级及雌、孕激素受体ER ,PR呈负相关。结论　上述结果提示端粒酶hTERT在子宫内膜癌的发生发展中可能起重要作用 ,端粒酶hTERT与ER ,PR的联合检测可能成为子宫内膜癌判断预后的一个指标。     

p27~(kipl)蛋白与雌、孕激素受体在子宫内膜组织中的表达及其意义

目的　探讨 p2 7kipl、雌激素受体 (ER)与孕激素受体 (PR)在子宫内膜癌中的表达及意义。方法　用免疫组化法检测 6 6例子宫内膜癌、2 9例子宫内膜非典型增生病变和 31例正常子宫内膜组织中p2 7kipl蛋白及其癌组织中ER和PR的表达。结果　在癌组织中p2 7kipl的表达率为 5 3.0 % ,明显低于非典型增生病变的 75 .8%和正常子宫内膜的 87.1% ,并与其分级有关 ;ER和PR的表达与p2 7kipl相似。结论　p2 7kipl与此癌的发展和恶性程度有关 ,这对其治疗和预后有参考价值。     

Epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands in endometrial carcinoma: correlation with clinico-morphologic factors and steroid receptors

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) were identified in the membrane fraction of tumor in 21 out of 58 (36%) endometrial cancer patients. EGFR ligands--EGF-like peptides--were found in tumor cytosols in 36% of patients. However, EGFR and EGF-like peptides were observed in 7% of tumors only; there were no receptors or ligands in 39% of patients. Both EGFR and steroid receptors were expressed in 20 tumor patients. The frequency of EGFR expression in endometrial carcinomas was practically identical to that of normal endometrium at the proliferative stage of menstrual cycle and half that of hyperplastic endometrium. Postmenopausal patients tended to show a decrease in hormonal sensitivity of carcinoma and EGFR expression frequency rate and a lower degree of endometrial carcinoma cell differentiation. Also, a significant rise in the EGFR expression frequency and mean concentration was found in conjunction with a deeper invasion of tumor into the myometrium.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of c-myc, c-jun and estrogen receptor in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium

To evaluate the role of c-jun and c-myc proto-oncogenes in normal, hyperplastic and neoplastic endometrium in relation to estrogen receptor (ER) status and to investigate whether these genes can be related to other histopathological features of endometrial carcinoma, 32 endometrial carcinomas, 38 endometrial hyperplasias and 22 cyclic endometria (10 proliferative and 12 secretory) were evaluated histologically. Endometrial hyperplasia cases were classified as simple and complex hyperplasia without atypia, and atypical hyperplasia. Endometrial carcinoma cases were subtyped according to the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists. Modified FIGO system was used for both grading and staging. Immunohistochemical examination was performed using antibodies to ER-alpha, c-myc and c-jun with streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. The mean percentage of ER-alpha positive cells changed cyclically during the menstrual cycle, and it was the highest (96%) and the lowest (31.6%) in proliferative and carcinomatous endometrium, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between proliferative and secretory phases and proliferative and carcinomatous endometrium in relation to ER-alpha staining (p<0.05). There was also a statistically significant difference with respect to ERalpha reactivity between secretory phase and each hyperplastic group, as well as between the carcinoma group and each hyperplastic group (p<0.05). Although not significant, the mean percentage of c-myc expressing cells in the carcinoma group was higher (15.3%) than that of proliferative phase and hyperplastic groups. The mean percentage of c-jun positive cells in proliferative endometrium was slightly higher than in secretory endometrium, and it was the highest in atypical hyperplastic endometrium (28.3%), but there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. In carcinoma cases, a positive correlation was observed between c-jun positivity and tumor grade (p=0.027, r=0.3908), but such a correlation with c-myc was not found. A positive correlation was detected between ER-alpha and c-myc expression (p=0.038, r=0.3686). A progressive loss of ER seems to be correlated with increasing malignant transformation. C-myc expression might play a role in the development of endometrial carcinoma via ER. The association between c-jun and ER appears to be lost in endometrial carcinoma. The relationship between c-myc, c-jun and ER appears to be altered in endometrial carcinoma compared to that of menstrual endometrium.     

Well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinomas and poorly differentiated mixed mullerian tumors have altered ER and PR isoform expression.

Both the estrogen receptor (ER) and the progesterone receptor (PR) have two subtypes: ER-alpha and beta, and PR-A and -B, respectively. These subtypes differ in function and expression, and recent reports have correlated changes in the normal proportions of these isoforms with neoplastic states. We investigated ER and PR isoform expression in normal pre- and post-menopausal endometrium, well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma, and poorly differentiated malignant mixed mullerian tumors (MMMTs). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunoblotting were used to measure receptor mRNA and protein expression. Estrogen receptor-alpha/beta mRNA ratios were significantly higher in postmenopausal (27.3) compared to premenopausal endometrium (4.9) mainly as a result of lower ER-beta expression in the former. Compared to age-matched postmenopausal controls, the ER-alpha/beta ratio was reduced in both grade I adenocarcinoma and MMMT specimens (3.3 and 6.8, respectively), due to a selective loss of ER-alpha. The relative abundance of PR-A and PR-B mRNA remained unchanged between all tissue subtypes. Total PR protein, however, was significantly reduced in MMMTs compared to all other groups. Thus, sex steroid receptor expression is significantly and differentially altered in well-differentiated and poorly-differentiated endometrial cancers. Both cancers exhibit decreased ER-alpha expression and the MMMTs also demonstrate a significant loss of PR protein.     

表皮生长因子受体在子宫内膜样腺癌中的表达

目的研究表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)在子宫内膜样腺癌组织中的表达及其临床病理学意义.方法采用免疫组化S-P法对87例不同分化程度的子宫内膜样腺癌组织及20例正常子宫内膜组织进行EGFR检测.结果 EGFR在子宫内膜样腺癌中呈异质性表达.其阳性率(50.6%),明显高于正常子宫内膜组织(P＜0.01),EGFR的表达状况与子宫内膜样腺癌组织学分级及患者预后间存在相关关系,(P＜0.05).结论 EGFR在子宫内膜样腺癌中的表达可作为判断子宫内膜样腺癌中细胞增殖状态、恶性程度及患者预后的参考指标.     

Receptors for epidermal growth factor and steroid hormones in primary colorectal tumors

The presence of epidermal growth factor, estrogen, and progesterone receptors (EGFR, ER, and PR) was investigated by a competitive binding assay in 43 colorectal adenocarcinomas and 32 normal colorectal mucosa specimens. EGFR were expressed in most of the tumor specimens analyzed at levels comparable with normal mucosa. There was no correlation between EGFR and tumor localization, tumor size, tumor stage, and grading. Among tumor specimens, 13.9% and 6.9% expressed very low but detectable ER and PR levels, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between steroid hormone receptor levels in the tumor and normal mucosa specimens, and neither was there any correlation of ER and PR with the pathological findings. Our results suggest that the EGFR system may play a role in regulating the growth of colorectal tissues. Further studies should demonstrate whether, despite the lack of correlation with histopathological parameters, EGFR expression may have a biological significance in human colorectal cancer.     

Immunohistochemical detection of estrogen receptors on paraffin sections of normal, hyperplatic and carcinomatous endometrium.

The present study is the first dealing with the demonstration of estrogen receptors (ER) in up to 8-year-old paraffin blocks of endometrial curettage samples routinely fixed in 10% formalin. The Mab ER-ICA was used in a modified peroxidase-antiperoxidase method after pretreatment of paraffin sections with pronase. Eleven cases with proliferative, 11 cases with secretory endometrium, 20 cases with adenocystic, 21 with adenomatous hyperplasia and 27 endometrial adenocarcinomas were tested. The two main parameters, namely the percentage of ER-positive cells and the intensity of the immunostaining, were higher in the proliferative phase followed in a declining sequence by adenocystic hyperplasia, adenomatous hyperplasia, adenocarcinomas and the secretory phase of endometrium. Interestingly, the intensity of the immunostaining showed a positive relationship to the percentage of ER-positive cells (r = 0.93, p less than 0.001). It seems that the immunohistochemical demonstration of ER in paraffin sections of uterine specimens is an easy and reliable method for the mapping of the heterogeneous expression of ER and their comparative study with the well preserved histopathological features even in old archival paraffin-embedded material.     

Prognostic significance of erythropoietin expression in human endometrial carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Erythropoietin (Epo), which is induced by hypoxia, controls erythropoiesis and protects neurons from hypoxic damage. Hypoxia in malignant disease is associated with invasion, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. The authors recently demonstrated hypoxia-stimulated expression of Epo and Epo receptor (EpoR) in human breast and cervical carcinomas, suggesting a role for autocrine Epo signaling in the hypoxic adaptations of carcinomas. METHODS: The authors characterized the expression of Epo, EpoR, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) by immunohistochemical methods using endometrial carcinoma samples from 107 women and benign endometrial samples from 59 women in various phases of the menstrual cycle. They then analyzed potential correlations of Epo and EpoR immunostaining and clinicopathologic tumor features with outcome. RESULTS: In benign endometrial tissue samples, Epo and EpoR expression increased over the course of the cycle, with the highest levels observed in the late secretory phase. Epo expression in benign endometrial samples showed a negative correlation with ER and PR expression. The authors found Epo and EpoR expression in 95.3 % and 100% of endometrial carcinoma samples, respectively. Increased EpoR, but not Epo, expression in tumors was associated with advanced-stage disease, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, and loss of ER expression. Increased Epo expression was observed in perinecrotic tumor regions in a pattern similar to the HIF-1alpha expression pattern. Increased Epo expression was significantly associated with adverse clinical outcome on both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia-inducible autocrine Epo signaling in endometrial carcinoma may contribute to tumor progression and increased aggressiveness. Increased Epo expression in endometrial carcinomas may be an independent prognostic and/or predictive factor.     

Expression of uteroglobin in normal and carcinogenic endometrium and influence of hormone replacement therapy

Uteroglobin, first reported in 1968 as a steroid secreted in rabbit uterine fluid during early pregnancy, is a progesterone-regulated and progesterone-binding protein. There is evidence that indicates that uteroglobin is inversely correlated to neoplastic growth but its role to endometrial carcinogenesis is not known. Therefore we analyzed the expression of uteroglobin in 13 normal endometrium, 19 hyperplasia and 21 endometrial carcinoma samples and the relation to estrogen receptor-alpha (ER-alpha) and progesterone receptor (PR) by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. We also analyzed the expression of uteroglobin in 15 menopausal women who received hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The expression of uteroglobin was higher during the secretory phase than in the proliferative phase; however, it was detected in endometrial hyperplasia as weakly as in the proliferative phase and decreased according to the loss of differentiation in endometrial carcinoma. The results were basically in accord with those for PR; however, the expression of uteroglobin was weak, though PR was most detected in endometrial hyperplasia. In menopausal endometrium, the group treated with estrogen plus progesterone exhibited higher expression of uteroglobin than the group treated only with estrogen. The evidence suggests that uteroglobin expression is regulated by progesterone in the normal endometrium but that the regulation by PR is lost in endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma according to acquirement of tumorigenesis and that estrogen plus progesterone therapy reduces the risk for endometrial carcinoma by restoring uteroglobin.     

Estradiol and progesterone receptors in normal and neoplastic endometrium: correlations between receptors, histopathological examinations and clinical responses under progestin therapy.

Having examined the steroid receptor (SR)' system in normal and neoplastic endometrium from pre-and postmenopausal women, we investigated the effect of progestin therapy on estrogen and progestin receptors in neoplastic endometrium with respect to histopathological changes and clinical responses of the lesions. In normal endometrium of premenopausal women the estrogen receptor (ER) maximum occurred just before the estradiol (E) peak which is associated with a decrease in ER. In pre-and postmenopausal women, a high progesterone receptor (PR) value was never associated with a high ER value although in postmenopausal women, PR was only detected when the ER level was high and when there was histological evidence of estrogenic influence. In neoplastic endometrium, a high degree of histological differentiation was associated with simultaneous low ER and high PR values, and vice-versa. Progestin therapy results in virtually no change either in ER level or in pathological state of the lesions where PR was initially undetectable. In contrast, a positive clinical response was observed in a PR-positive lesion revealing a differentiated histological type. The effect of P therapy is a fall in both ER and PR to a low level for the former and an undetectable level for the latter. The reasons for PR disappearance involve a nuclear translocation (detected 4 to 8 h after treatment) and a non-replenishment of PR. Since the clinically responding patients were those with PR and ER positive lesions, the relationship between the presence of PR and a differentiated histological state could reflect the hormonal sensitivity of the tissue. These data also suggest that the effectiveness of P therapy is due to a redifferentiation and to a reduction of the estrogen-dependent growth of neoplastic endometrial cells.     

Expression of ps2 protein in endometrial carcinomas: Correlation with clinicopathologic features and sex steroid receptor status

Using immunohistochemistry, we examined pS2 expression in 64 samples of endometrial carcinoma, 11 samples of endometrial hyperplasia and 15 samples of normal endometrium, and compared them with clinicopathological data, estrogen receptor (ER) expression and progesterone receptor (PR) expression. Of the 64 samples of endometrial carcinoma, 45 (70%) expressed the pS2 protein. The average age of the patients with pS2-positive carcinomas (54.8 ± 8.6 years) was significantly lower than that of the patients with pS2-negative carcinomas, and all premenopausal patients were positive for the pS2 protein. Among histological types, pS2 expression was observed in 33 (92%) of the 36 G1 carcinomas, but in none of the 5 nonendometrioid carcinomas. Of the 48 ER-positive carcinomas, 43 (90%) were pS2-positive and 5 were pS2-negative. Of the 40 PR-positive carcinomas, 37 (93%) were positive for pS2. There were significant associations between pS2 expression and ER/PR expression (p < 0.001). Staining of the pS2 protein was also observed in the samples of normal endometrium. We found a progressive increase in immunoreactivity of pS2 protein from normal endometrium to endometrial hyperplasia and still more in well-differentiated carcinoma. All 11 cases of endometrial hyperplasia were strongly positive for pS2. Furthermore, patients with pS2-positive carcinomas had a better survival rate than those with pS2-negative carcinomas (p < 0.05). Our data suggest that pS2 expression is likely correlated with estrogen-related endometrial carcinoma and is possibly involved in early disease progression. Int. J. Cancer 74:237-244, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Measurement of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor in human endometrium and endometrial carcinoma

The concentration of cytosol estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) in the endometrium of the normal menstrual cycle and endometrial carcinoma, were measured by Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) using monoclonal antibody, and were compared with Dextran Coated Charcoal (DCC) method. In DCC method, maximum binding sites were estimated according to Scatchard plot analysis. Following results were obtained in this study. 1) In the normal endometrium obtained from 20 cases, the correlation coefficients for ER and PR were 0.907 and 0.778, respectively. Regression lines were as follows; ER (EIA) = 1.68 (DCC) + 19.1 fmol/mg protein and PR (EIA) = 0.13 (DCC) + 24.8 fmol/mg protein. A good correlation was found between the two methods in ER assay. 2) In the normal menstrual cycle, DCC values and EIA values of ER were increased in proliferative phase, and were decreased in secretory phase. DCC values of PR were increased in proliferative phase and not decreased in secretory phase, but EIA values of PR were not remarkably changed. 3) In the endometrial carcinoma obtained from 14 cases, there was good correlation between EIA and DCC values in ER assay (r = 0.941), but correlation between the two methods was not found in PR assay. 4) In relation of histology, positive rates were highest in patients with well differentiated types, and in relation of clinical stage, positive rates were higher in the patients with early stages than progressive stages. These results suggest that EIA is as useful as DCC in ER assay in normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma.     

The impact of gefitinib on epidermal growth factor receptor signaling pathways in cancer

The ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, of which the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the prototype, is associated with the formation and malignant progression of most of the common solid tumors. These molecules play a key role in a complex network of signal transduction pathways that function in normal development as well as in neoplastic transformation. The EGFR and other family members are therefore promising targets for new anticancer therapies. In normal tissues, EGFR-tyrosine kinase (TK) activity is strictly controlled. However, in tumor cells, there are multiple mechanisms that can lead to increased or inappropriate EGFR-TK activity, including altered expression of EGFR, its ligand, or interacting molecules; decreased deactivation through phosphatases or downregulation; or mutation of the EGFR protein. Novel therapeutic approaches aimed at inhibiting increased EGFR-TK activity include antibodies that block the extracellular ligand-binding site, antibody or ligand fusion proteins that specifically target toxins to the tumor cells, or small-molecule TK inhibitors (TKIs) that act intracellularly to block downstream signal transduction from EGFR. Studies have shown that such blockade can lead to reduced cellular proliferation, inhibition of survival signals, and inhibition of tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. Additionally, some agents, including EGFR antibodies and TKIs such as gefitinib have been demonstrated to be effective against various human solid tumors in preclinical models and have shown activity in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer and other solid tumors.