Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor in esophageal cancer

The level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) has been measured by a competitive binding assay in 45 human esophageal cancer tissues. The EGF-R level in the esophageal cancer tissue was found to be significantly higher than in specimens of gastric or colonic cancer. No correlation was observed, however between the EGF-R level and the pathological findings, such as the depth of the tumoral invasion, the degree of lymph node metastasis, and the histologic staging. Even so, the prognosis of the patients with a high level of EGF-R of more than 50 fmol/mg of protein was significantly worse than those with a low level of EGF-R and less than 50 fmol/mg of protein (p less than 0.01). Further, according to an immunohistochemical assay using anti EGF-R monoclonal antibody, EGF-R was focally stained in the basal cells and in the parabasal cells of normal esophageal mucossa, but was diffuse in almost all tumor cells of ane esophageal cancer. Thus, a good relationship with the quantitative level of EGF-R and its immunoreactivities was demonstrated, indications that EGF-R plays an important role in tumor progression and appears to be a useful prognostic factor in cases of esophageal cancer.     

Expression of keratinocyte growth factor and its receptor in human endometrial cancer in cooperation with steroid hormones

The keratinocyte factor (KGF) and its receptor (KGFR) are implicated in tissue development and repair. We studied the expression and functions of KGF and KGFR in association with estrogen and progesterone in human endometrial tissues and cells. In non-cancerous human endometrial tissues in the secretory phase, a strong immunoreactivity of KGF in glands, stromal cells, and smooth muscle cells of spiral arteries was detected; however, in proliferative-phase tissues, the immunoreactivity of KGF or KGFR was weak or absent. Most of the 32 endometrioid adenocarcinoma cases showed positive KGF and KGFR stainings (90.6 and 71.9%, respectively). We then studied, using Ishikawa well-differentiated human endometrial cancer cell line that expresses estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR), the expression of KGF and KGFR in conjunction with estrogen and progesterone, and observed that the KGFR expression of Ishikawa cells was upregulated by estrogen and that this upregulation was markedly enhanced by the coadministration of progesterone. We also observed that KGF administration to cells, with KGFR upregulated expression, stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell adhesion to fibronectin. The implications of the hormone-stimulated KGF-KGFR expressions in the regulation of cell behavior associated with human endometrial cancer are discussed.     

角化生长因子及其受体在妇科肿瘤中的研究现状

在妇科肿瘤的诊断中,目前对这些疾病分子方面的检测尚无统一的、明确的标准,以宮颈癌为例,鳞状上皮细胞癌抗原的检测仍是目前研究该类疾病的主要内容之一,人们期望在众多所检测的因子中,能寻找到具有对疾病诊断、预后及治疗等方面更为有效的新兴检测指标.角化生长因子及其受体目前在多种肿瘤中被发现表达异常,与多种肿瘤的发生发展相关,本文就其在妇科肿瘤发生发展中的检测变化、现阶段研究进展加以着重综述,显示了其在不同肿瘤、疾病中作用的多形性,探索变化的规律性,以期对临床诊治疾病获益.     

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.     

EGFR在结直肠癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的：检测表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR）在结直肠癌组织中的表达情况,分析其表达水平与各种主要临床病理学预后因子及长期生存的关系。方法：选取解放军307医院和301医院第二附属医院64例结直肠癌患者的石腊包埋肿瘤标本,以免疫组化方法检测结直肠癌肿瘤标本中EGFR的表达。通过单因素分析和多因素分析判断EGFR表达与临床病理学指标之间的关系;通过多因素分析（COX模型）判断EGFR表达水平与患者总生存期的关系。结果：所有患者肿瘤组织EGFR的阳性表达率为69%。T3期肿瘤EGFR阳性表达明显多于T1和T2期（P〈0.05）,淋巴结转移阳性者EGFR阳性表达明显多于无转移者（P〈0.05）,有远处转移者EGFR阳性表达明显多于无远处转移者（P〈0.05）;EGFR表达与患者性别、年龄、肿瘤原发部位、肿瘤大小、肿瘤分化程度等均无明显相关性。EGFR表达水平与患者总生存期无明显相关。结论：结直肠癌组织EGFR的表达与肿瘤TNM分期相关,与患者总生存期无明显相关。     

Clinical significance of the expression of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in esophageal cancer

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) level in 56 esophageal cancer tissues was measured by 125I-EGF binding assay to elucidate its role in tumor progression. The survival rate of patients with high EGFR level (more than 50 fmol/mg protein) was significantly lower than that of patients with low EGFR level (less than 50 fmol/mg protein, P less than 0.01), although a correlation between EGFR level and the pathologic findings was not observed. The expression of EGF was examined immunohistochemically using anti-EGF monoclonal antibody in 100 esophageal cancer tissues; EGF-positive tumor cells were detected in 92.0%. The immunoreactivity of EGF was classified arbitrarily into four grades according to the number of stained tumor cells. The expression of EGF significantly correlated with the differentiation of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (P less than 0.01, by chi-square test). The survival rate of patients with high EGF immunoreactivity (Grade 2 or 3) was much lower than in those with lower grade (0 or 1) tumors, (P less than 0.01). Patients with both high EGFR level and EGF immunoreactivity had a much worse prognosis than if both were low. Furthermore, the mitotic index was higher in groups with both high EGFR and EGF than if both were low (16.39 +/- 5.35 versus 6.90 +/- 3.31). These results suggest that EGF and EGFR in the autocrine system may play an important role in tumor progression in esophageal cancer and their expression could be of prognostic significance.     

Expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR/FGFR2 IIIb) in human uterine cervical cancer

Keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR), also known as FGFR2 IIIb, is a splice variant of FGFR-2. KGFR is expressed in many types of epithelial cell and is activated with four known ligands [FGF-1, FGF-3, FGF-7 (also known as KGF) and FGF-10] that are predominantly synthesized by mesenchymal cells. KGFR is highly expressed in the late-proliferative phase of a normal endometrium and in endometrial adenocarcinoma. In the present study, we attempted to determine the expression and localization of KGFR in human cervical cancer cell lines and cervical cancer tissues. The KGFR protein was detected in CaSki and HeLa cells, but not in ME-180 cells of cervical cancer cell lines. In non-cancer cervical tissues, KGFR immunoreactivity was weakly expressed in the surface of squamous epithelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Immunohistochemically, the KGFR protein was detected in squamous cell carcinoma in 36 of 42 (86%) cervical cancer patients. In cervical cancer tissues, KGFR was detected in 17 of 18 (94%) of patients with the keratinizing type and 19 of 24 (79%) of patients with the non-keratinizing type of cervical cancer. Furthermore, KGFR was prominently localized in proliferating reserve cells and squamous metaplastic reserve cells adjacent to cancer cells. In contrast, KGFR was not detected in cervical ductal cells in cancer or non-cancer cervical tissues. These findings may indicate that KGFR mediates the growth and differentiation of reserve cells and squamous cell carcinoma in the cervix.     

Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor gene in cultured human lung cancer cells

The expression and organization of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene in cultured human lung cancer cell lines (5 adenocarcinomas, 3 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 small cell carcinomas and 1 large cell carcinoma) have been studied. Two (PC-8 and PC-9) of the adenocarcinomas overproduced EGF receptor mRNA and protein, and exhibited gene amplification, the magnitude of which was comparable to that of A431 cells. Six cell lines (3 adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 small cell carcinoma) expressed EGF receptor gene and its product to a significant level without gene amplification, and the other three cell lines were found to be negative as regards expression.     

Expression of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor, its activator, inhibitors and the c-Met receptor in human cancer cells

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), a cytokine associated with cancer cell migration and invasion, is synthesised as pro-HGF/SF and requires activation by factors such as the HGF activator (HGFA). The present study examined the expression of HGF/SF, HGFA, the two inhibitors to HGFA action known as hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors type 1 and 2 (HAI-1 and HAI-2), and the HGF/SF receptor, c-Met. We examined a variety of normal and cancer cells, which included breast, prostate, colon, bladder, liver, lung, and pancreatic cancer cell lines. The cell lines all displayed different patterns of expression, and in some of the cancer cell lines the concomitant expression of the HGF/SF, c-Met, HGFA and HAI genes was observed. The only cell line to produce a significant amount of HGF/SF was the human fibroblasts (MRC-5) which also co-expressed the c-Met and HGFA genes to allow autocrine regulation of HGF/SF stimulation, and importantly displayed little or no inhibitor presence to suppress the biological function of HGF/SF. The highly invasive breast cancer cells (MDA MB-231) expressed large amounts of both c-Met and HGFA, to enable maximum influence from HGF/SF and did not express the HAI-1 gene at all, which suggests a shift in the activation-inhibition balance to enhance metastatic potential. In contrast, the breast cancer cells of low invasive nature (MCF-7) displayed a low level of c-Met and HGFA expression, while expressing the HAI genes to a high degree. However, there was no correlation between HAI-1 and HAI-2 expression. Interestingly, there appeared to be an inverse correlation between the degree of HGFA and HAI-1 expression, which may influence the metastatic ability of the cancer cells. This study has shown that c-Met, HGF/SF and its activator and inhibitors are expressed in different patterns in cancer cells and in normal cells. The balance between HGF/SF activation and HGFA inhibition is critical to the metastatic potential of the tumour cells, and the invasive nature of the cancer cell lines correlated to the degree of c-Met and/or HGFA presence along with HAI-1 expression.     

UVB-induced activation and internalization of keratinocyte growth factor receptor

Ultraviolet irradiation of mammalian cells induces several events that include activation of growth factor receptors and triggering of signal transduction pathway. Most of the UV responses are mediated by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and can be blocked by antioxidants. In this study, we analysed the effect of UVB irradiation at physiologic doses and that of the pro-oxidant agent cumene hydroperoxide (CUH) on the activation of the receptor for keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a key mediator of epithelial growth and differentiation. Exposure to both UVB (30-150 mJ/cm(2)) and CUH (200 microM of NIH3T3 KGFR (KGF receptors) transfectants caused a rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of KGFR similar to that induced by KGF, and internalization of the activated receptor. The KGFR expression appeared unmodified by the treatments. Ultrastructural observations of both UVB- and CUH-treated cells showed a normal morphology of the plasma membranes and intracellular organelles. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine inhibited UVB-induced receptor phosphorylation. The generation of an intracellular oxidative stress was detected as a decrease of catalase activity and of vitamin E, and reduced glutathione levels, whereas superoxide dismutase activity was not significantly modified. A peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids of cell membranes was observed after both treatments, associated with the intracellular oxidative stress. Similar biochemical events were observed on NIH3T3 untransfected control cells, suggesting that KGFR activation follows intracellular generation of ROS and is not associated with a scavenging effect. Taken together our results demonstrate that exposure to UVB and to oxidant stimuli induces a rapid intracellular production of ROS, which in turn are capable of triggering KGFR activation and internalization, similar to those induced by KGF.     

Epidermal growth factor and its receptor in cervical cancer

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is an important growth factor regulating both normal and malignant cells. The present study analyzes the expression pattern of EGF and its receptor (EGF-R) in 424 cases of various stages of tumor progression in the uterine cervix. In all the samples studied, EGF and EGF-R expression was predominant in the basal or basaloid cells. Increased expression of the two proteins correlated with increasing histological abnormality (dysplasia). In invasive cancer, alteration of EGF expression was more evident than EGF-R. The expression pattern showed significant correlation in the basal and spinal cell layers. This increased expression of EGF observed in dysplastic and malignant cells may be due to overexpression of EGF-R and suggests its role in cellular proliferation.     

血管内皮生长因子及其受体mRNA在前列腺癌组织中的表达

目的探讨血管内皮生长因子(vascularendothelialcellgrowthfactor,VEGF)及其受体Flt1、KDRmRNA在前列腺癌组织中的表达。方法采用逆转录聚合酶链反应技术对手术的33例前列腺癌和11例正常前列腺组织标本中VEGF及其受体KDR、Flt1mRNA的表达进行检测。结果在78.79%(28/33)前列腺癌组织和63.64%(7/11)正常前列腺组织中检测到VEGF121、VEGF165mRNA的表达,表达水平分别为1.03±0.54和1.39±0.66,显著高于正常前列腺组织的0.38±0.31和0.54±0.26,t值分别为3.73和3.89,P值分别为0.0006和0.0002。KDR、Flt1mRNA在部分前列腺癌组织中表达,分别为48.48%(16/33)和33.33%(11/33),而在正常前列腺组织组织中未见表达;VEGFmRNA表达与KDRmRNA、Flt1mRNA表达密切相关,P值分别为0.002和0.000。结论前列腺癌组织中VEGF121、VEGF165及其受体KDR、Flt1mRNA表达水平升高,且VEGF表达与其受体KDR及Flt1表达密切相关。提示VEGF及其受体KDR、Flt1在前列腺癌发生发展过程中起重要作用。     

VEGF在食管鳞癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理参数的相关性

目的:评价VEGF在食管鳞癌组织中的表达情况及其与相关临床病理参数之间的关系。方法:取265例资料完整的食管鳞癌术后切除标本为研究对象,免疫组化方法检测VEGF、EGFR、COX-2等相关蛋白的表达。采用χ2检验评估VEGF的表达水平与不同临床病理参数、EGFR及COX-2表达水平之间的关系。结果:VEGF蛋白在食管鳞癌组织中的阳性表达率和高表达率分别为87.9%（233/265）和57.7%（153/265）。VEGF蛋白的高表达与食管鳞癌分期、淋巴结转移、外膜浸润、血管侵犯、EGFR表达及COX-2表达均具有统计学相关性。结论:食管鳞癌组织中VEGF蛋白的表达水平与肿瘤分期及侵袭和浸润可能密切相关,可作为预测其生物学行为的重要参考指标。     

表皮生长因子受体、血管内皮生长因子受体和BAD在非小细胞肺癌中的表达

背景与目的：表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor，EGFR）和血管内皮生长因子受体（vascular endothelial growth factor receptor，VEGFR）均属酪氨酸激酶受体（receptor tyrosine kinase，RTK），可调控细胞的增殖、分化与生存。BAD是Bcl-2家族中的促凋亡信号成分，在调控细胞凋亡特别是肿瘤细胞凋亡过程中发挥重要作用。但目前人们对上述这些重要蛋白在非小细胞肺癌（non—small—cell lung cancer，NSCLC）中的表达与肿瘤病理学的关系所知甚少。本研究探讨ECFR、VEGFR、BAD和磷酸化BAD在NSCLC中的表达情况以及与肿瘤病理的关系。方法：使用组织微阵列（tissue microarray，TMA）切片的免疫组织化学法，NSCLC患者51例（26例腺癌，16例鳞癌，8例大细胞癌，1例大细胞神经内分泌癌）。结果：51例患者中EGFR和VEGFR分别在10例（加％）和14例（27％）中出现过度表达。大细胞癌中未见VEGFR表达（0／8例），而鳞癌和腺癌患者中VEGFR表达分别为44％（7／16）和27％（7／26）。EGFR和VEGFR的表达与性别，肿瘤细胞分化及肿瘤浸润程度（包括胸膜浸润，血管浸润，淋巴结转移，肺内播散，脑转移情况）无关。51例患者中22例（43％）出现BAD蛋白表达缺失，且NSCLC的不同病理类型间差异有显著性。BAD蛋白表达缺失在16例鳞癌患者中10例（63％），8例大细胞癌患者中5例（63％），26例鳞癌患者中有7例（27％）（P=0．04）。51例患者中25例（49％）出现磷酸化BAD蛋白过度表达[其中26例腺癌患者中有13例（50％），16例鳞癌患者中有8例（50％），8例大细胞癌患者中有4例（50％）]。BAD蛋白的表达缺失与磷酸化BAD蛋白的过度表达经统计检验与上述肿瘤浸润程度无相关性。结论：肺鳞癌出现VEGFR表达增高的可能较大，而大细胞癌出现VEGFR表达增高的可能最小。在鳞癌和大细胞癌中可见BAD蛋白表达的显著缺失。NSCLC患者EGFR，VEGFR，磷酸化BAD蛋白的过度表达以及BAD蛋白表达的缺失与病理浸润程度无关。但这些受体酪氨酸激酶表达以及与NSCLC凋亡直接相关的媒介因子可能成为未来多靶向治疗中的候选靶标。     

表皮生长因子受体在食管癌放疗中的应用

 表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）在食管癌中高表达或突变,引起肿瘤对放疗的抗拒,导致放疗效果差。抗EGFR治疗具有肿瘤放疗增敏作用,目前针对EGFR的分子靶向研究主要有人工合成的单克隆抗体、小分子酪氨酸激酶抑制剂、RNA干扰（RNAi）下调受体表达。