The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Breast Cancer

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)³ is a 170 kD transmembrane tyrosine kinase activated by several ligands. It is required for normal mammary development and lactation and is aberrantly expressed in approximately 40% of breast carcinomas, particularly those with a poor prognostic phenotype. Since EGF receptor levels are elevated in a high proportion of many tumor types its potential as a therapy target is being investigated using the EGF receptor to target toxins, as well as drugs that interfere with signaling and anti-receptor antibodies. These approaches are likely to be most effective when used in the adjuvant situation in combination with chemotherapy.     

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Spindle Cell Carcinomas of the Head and Neck

Spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) is an uncommon head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) variant consisting of spindled and/or pleomorphic cells with epithelial differentiation. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is expressed by >90 % of conventional SCC, and high level expression is associated with a poorer prognosis. Anti-EGFR therapies are commonly used to treat head and neck SCC. However, no studies have evaluated EGFR expression in SpCC. Cases of SpCC were retrieved from department files. The diagnosis required either a biphasic lesion with a squamous neoplastic component, or a purely spindle cell or pleomorphic tumor with immunohistochemical positivity for epithelial markers. EGFR immunohistochemistry was performed and was quantified in quartiles. Medical records were reviewed for clinical follow up information. EGFR was expressed in 21/30 (70 %) cases, including in the squamous component in 18/19 (95 %) and the spindle cell component in only 12/30 (40 %). Where the spindle cell component was positive, the intensity and distribution were lower than for the squamous component. Recurrent tumors were predominantly (80–90 %) of the spindle cell component, and had low (or absent) EGFR expression. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed no statistically significant differences in overall or disease free survival between the EGFR expressing and non-expressing groups (p = 0.414 and 0.19, respectively). SpCCs of the head and neck have a poor prognosis, and markedly reduced EGFR expression. EGFR-specific therapies may not be ideal for SpCC patients, which may lack EGFR expression, but further studies are needed.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12105-014-0604-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

结缔组织生长因子在肾活检组织中的表达及意义

目的 :检测不同间质纤维化程度的肾活检组织中结缔组织生长因子 (CTGF)和α -平滑肌肌动蛋白(α -SMA)的表达 ,观察CTGF、α -SMA与肾间质纤维化程度和肾功能之间的关系 ,探讨CTGF在肾脏肌成纤维细胞形成中可能的作用。方法 :选取不同病因和类型的肾活检标本 4 5例 ,按常规进行染色 ,根据光镜下小管间质的病变分组。采用免疫组化方法 ,检测各组标本CTGF和α -SMA的表达 ,并将CTGF的表达、α -SMA的表达、间质纤维化程度和患者血肌酐水平进行比较。结果 :CTGF主要表达于肾小管上皮细胞和一些肾间质细胞胞浆 ,并且随间质病变的加重 ,表达量增加 ,范围增大 ;α-SMA在病变肾间质区域表达增强 ,一些管腔破坏和萎缩的肾小管上皮细胞也可见表达 ,阳性分布区域与CTGF相似。肾小管间质中CTGF、α -SMA表达量之间呈正相关 ,CTGF和α -SMA表达量与肾间质纤维化病变程度和患者血肌酐水平均呈正相关关系。结论 :CTGF可能通过促进间质中肌成纤维细胞的形成而参与肾间质纤维化的形成 ,CTGF的表达上调对肾脏疾病有预后价值     

Prognostic Significance of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Expression in Colon Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Surgery

Background To investigate the role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression as a prognostic marker for prediction of cancer behavior and clinical outcomes in colon cancer patients undergoing potentially curative surgery. Methods EGFR determination using a commercially available immunohistochemistry kit was performed in tissues from 149 colon cancer patients receiving primary surgical treatment and in 25 normal colon mucosa specimens from noncancer patients. EGFR positivity was correlated in univariate and multivariate analyses with disease recurrence and survival. In addition, p27, p53, and vascular endothelial growth factor expression were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 104 patients and correlated with EGFR tumor expression and clinical outcome. Results EGFR expression was detected in approximately one third of colon cancer patients (53 of 149; 35.6%). In 126 curatively treated patients, EGFR expression was correlated with disease recurrence and worse survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. In a multivariate model for predicting recurrence and survival, Dukes’ staging, p27, and EGFR expression were the only independent covariates. In particular, in Dukes’ A and B patients the 5-year survival probability was 96% for EGFR-negative and high p27 expression cases and was 30.7% for EGFR-positive and low p27 expression cases. Conclusions EGFR expression was an independent prognostic indicator of disease recurrence and poor survival in colon cancer patients undergoing curative surgery. In the context of novel therapeutic options such as molecularly targeted therapies, these findings suggest that anti-EGFR drugs could be evaluated in the adjuvant treatment of EGFR-positive colon cancer patients.     

Down-Regulation of Osteoblastic Cell Differentiation by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

The role of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) in osteogenic cell differentiation was investigated using preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 (MC3T3) cells and osteoblast-like ROS 17/2.8 (ROS) cells. When cultured in the presence of β-glycerophosphate (GP) and ascorbic acid (AA), MC3T3 cells underwent spontaneous differentiation into osteoblasts which was confirmed as they expressed osteoblast markers such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and osteocalcin (OC). Interestingly, the number of EGF-binding sites decreased during their differentiation into osteoblasts, and the osteogenic protein-1 (OP-1) treatment, which accelerated their differentiation, lowered the number of EGF-binding sites even further. On the other hand, ROS cells with high expression levels of osteoblast markers and no EGF-R, after being transfected with human EGF-R cDNA (EROS cells), expressed numerous EGF-binding sites as well as EGF-R mRNA and protein; in the process, they ceased to express osteoblast markers, indicating their dedifferentiation into osteoprogenitor cells. Both MC3T3 and EROS cells showed increased cell growth in response to EGF, whereas ROS cells did not. These results imply that the EGF/EGF-R system in osteogenic cells has a crucial function in osteoblast phenotype suppression and osteogenic cell proliferation.     

阉割对大鼠颌下腺雄激素受体及表皮生长因子的影响

目的:观察阉割对大鼠颌下腺雄激素受体(AR)及表皮生长因子的影响。方法:60只30~60日龄的W istar雄性大鼠,随机分为阉割组、假手术组和正常对照组,每组20只。1周后摘除各组大鼠颌下腺。颌下腺匀浆后用于W estern印迹分析。结果:与其他两组相比,阉割组颌下腺中的AR含量明显降低(P<0.05),而且,颌下腺分泌的表皮生长因子亦低于其他两组(P<0.05)。结论:阉割影响了颌下腺中AR的产生,并进一步影响了颌下腺分泌表皮生长因子的功能。     

The Role of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Breast Cancer

Recent trials of drug therapy targeting the erbB receptor HER2 have met with success in breast cancer. The epidermal growth factor receptor or EGFR is a closely related receptor from this same family that is involved in cellular signal transduction and tumor cell growth and survival. Emerging evidence indicates that EGFR is implicated in the development of hormone-resistant breast cancer, and that its activity is intertwined with estrogen receptor. Here, the role of EGFR in breast cancer is reviewed, and data from selected clinical trials of signal transduction inhibition of this cellular target are summarized.     

表皮生长因子受体,多胺与肺癌的关系

探讨表皮生长因子受体（ＥＧＦＲ）和多胺（ＰＡ）对人肺癌及正常肺组织生长、分化的影响。方法放射性配体结合法检测ＥＧＦＲ含量；高效液相色谱分析法测ＰＡ含量。结果肺癌组织中ＥＧＦＲ的含量（５．６２±４．２６ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ膜蛋白）高于非癌肺组织（３．９０５±２．２７９ｆｍｏｌ／ｍｇ膜蛋白），有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０１）；肺癌组织ＰＡ的含量亦高于正常肺组织（Ｐ＜０．０１）。结论ＥＧＦＲ和ＰＡ可促使肺癌发展，可作为肺癌的肿瘤标记物     

Elevated Serum Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Level in Stage IV Thymoma

Using the enzyme immunoassay for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), we investigated whether serum EGFR levels could be used as a predictor of the development and extension of thymoma. Serum samples were collected from 31 patients with thymoma and 16 patients with nonmalignant thoracic disease before clinical treatment. There was no difference between the serum EGFR levels of the patients with thymoma and the nonmalignant controls, being 49.1 ± 136.3 and 22.6 ± 7.3fm/ml, respectively (P = 0.11). However, patients with stage IV thymoma had significantly higher EGFR levels than those with stage I or stage II thymoma, the respective values being 127.8 ± 243.9, 10.9 ± 9.2 (P = 0.02), and 19.7 ± 10.6 (P = 0.0433) fm/ml. The serum EGFR levels were similar in the pathological subtypes. These findings suggest that serum EGFR levels may serve as a marker that could be used as a diagnostic indicator of the invasion of thymoma.     

Concomitant Analysis of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Family in Esophageal Cancer: Overexpression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor mRNA but Not of c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3

The epidermal growth factor receptor family consists of four closely related transmembrane receptors: epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), c-erbB-2, c-erbB-3, and c-erbB-4. Overexpression of each receptor may lead to cell transformation and contributes to tumor progression in various malignancies. Although these factors have been analyzed in many cancers separately, little is known about their concomitant expression in esophageal cancer. Based on the finding that EGF-R and c-erbB-2 form highly active transmembranous heterodimers that enhance cell growth and proliferation, we used Northern blot analysis and immunohistochemistry to analyze the concomitant expression of EGF-R, c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-3 in tissue samples obtained from 39 patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer. Northern blot analysis revealed a fourfold increase (p < 0.01) in EGF-R mRNA levels in the esophageal cancer samples in comparison with normal tissue samples. The c-erbB-2 receptor was only 1.25-fold elevated in the esophageal cancers, which failed to be statistically significant (p= 0.31). In contrast, c-erbB-3 mRNA levels were 3.5-fold lower (p < 0.01) in the esophageal cancers than in the normal tissues. Immunohistochemical analysis showed weak EGF-R, c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-3 immunostaining in the normal esophageal tissue. In esophageal cancer samples, immunoreactivity for EGF-R, c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-3 was mainly located in the cancer cells. Strong EGF-R, c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-3 immunoreactivity was present in 59%, 64%, and 64% of the esophageal cancer samples, respectively. In consecutive tissue sections, identical cancer cell clusters often exhibited these three closely related receptors simultaneously. However, correlation of the immunohistochemical findings with the clinicopathologic patient parameters revealed that the presence of EGF-R, c-erbB-2, or c-erbB-3 had no influence on patient survival (p > 0.05). In addition, the simultaneous presence of these receptors did not influence survival. Our findings indicate that in esophageal cancer the presence of EGF-R, c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-3 alone or in combination seems to have no major influence on patient prognosis and does not alter tumor growth behavior significantly.     

吉非替尼对表皮生长因子受体在胆管上皮细胞中表达的影响及意义

目的通过观察吉非替尼对肝内病变胆管上皮细胞中表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)表达的影响,探讨抑制胆管上皮细胞过度增殖的可行性。方法选择双流县第一人民医院2006年8月至2008年8月期间住院需要手术的肝内胆管结石患者共61例,年龄25～65岁(平均46.92岁),随机分为治疗组和对照组。治疗组30例,术中在病变胆管内留置细导管,术后灌注吉非替尼溶液;对照组31例只作T管引流。分别于术中、术后6周和12周行胆道镜碎石及取石的同时,活检灌注处的病变胆管壁组织,行HE染色、免疫组化和RT-PCR检测,观察组织学变化和EGFR的表达。结果术中,2组胆管壁病理组织学改变及EGFR蛋白和mRNA表达无明显差异。术后6周和12周,治疗组的胆管黏膜上皮和黏膜下腺体增殖程度均较对照组明显减弱,EGFR蛋白表达较对照组明显减弱,EGFR mRNA表达明显低于对照组(P0.05)。结论 EGFR在慢性增生性胆管炎中呈过表达状态,术后局部持续给予吉非替尼治疗能够特异性地阻断EGFR的激活和表达,能有效地抑制术后胆管上皮细胞的过度增殖。     

Clinical Significance of the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and HER2 Receptor in Resectable Gastric Cancer

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR or HER1) and its homolog c-erbB-2 (HER2) are membrane receptors. Both EGFR and HER2 genes are overexpressed in a variety of solid human cancers and are related to poor prognosis of the patients. The objective of this work was to evaluate the EGFR and HER2 contents in resectable gastric cancer, their possible relationship with clinicopathologic parameters of tumors, and their prognostic significance.Methods: This was a prospective analysis of 63 patients with resectable gastric carcinomas, with a mean follow-up period of 40.7 months. Membranous EGFR levels were examined by radioligand binding assays, and cytosolic HER2 levels were examined by means of an immunoenzymatic assay.Results: There was a wide variability of EGFR (1–1,239 fmol/mg of protein) and HER2 (7–20,863 NHU/mg of protein) levels in tumors. There was no significant correlation between these levels and patient or tumor characteristics. However, high levels of EGFR and HER2 were significantly associated with a shorter overall survival period (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively).Conclusions: There is a wide variability in membranous EGFR levels and in cytosolic HER2 levels in gastric cancer, which seems to be related to the biological heterogeneity of these tumors. In addition, high tumor EGFR and HER2 levels were associated with an unfavorable outcome in patients with resectable gastric cancer.     

表皮生长因子受体拮抗剂对慢性增生性胆管炎的实验疗效探讨

目的探讨表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)拮抗剂能否抑制慢性增生性胆管炎(CPC)的过度增殖行为和成石潜力,以期为肝内胆管结石的防治探索新的治疗途径。方法将46只健康SD大鼠随机分为5组:CPC模型组(10只),仅行造模处理;3种剂量EGFR拮抗剂AG-1478治疗组(分为3mg/kg、6mg/kg和12mg/kg组,各10只),在行造模术的同时经胆总管内注入相应剂量的AG-1478,术后7d内腹腔内注射AG-1478 1.5mg/(kg.d);假手术组(SO组,6只),仅行开腹术后即关腹。于术后7d剖腹取胆管标本组织分别行病理组织学观察、免疫组化染色、RT-PCR和Western blot检测,比较各组EGFR、5-溴脱氧尿核苷(BrdU)、Ki-67、黏蛋白5AC和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白的mRNA或蛋白表达情况,以评估AG-1478对病变胆管黏膜过度增殖行为(EGFR、Ki-67、BrdU、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白)和成石潜力(黏蛋白5AC)的影响。结果 与CPC模型组比较,治疗组的EGFR、Ki-67及BrdU表达明显降低,组织学观察所见的胆管黏膜上皮和胶原纤维的过度增殖行为也得到了有效的抑制;此外,治疗组的黏蛋白5AC mRNA和Ⅰ型胶原蛋白表达水平也较CPC模型组明显降低(P<0.05)。结论 EGFR拮抗剂可有效抑制CPC病变胆管黏膜的过度增殖和成石潜力,有望成为CPC新的治疗手段。     

表皮生长因子及其受体对雄性生殖系统的影响

表皮生长因子 (EGF)是首先从小鼠颌下腺分离出来的含 5 3个氨基酸残基的单链多肽 ,通过与其受体(EGFR)相结合发挥多种生物学效应。近年来发现 ,在人类和其他动物的雄性生殖系统有EGF与EGFR表达 ,对雄性生殖器官的发育、维持及变异起着重要的作用 ,同时 ,对雄性激素的分泌和精子发生也有很大的影响。EGFR在睾丸的支持细胞和间质细胞上均有表达 ,可影响睾酮的分泌 ;能维持正常前列腺组织的生长发育 ,刺激前列腺增生组织和前列腺癌组织的生长和分化 ;EGF参与精子发生 ,其作用点主要在减数分裂过程 ;可影响性分化 ,在雄激素诱导下使胚胎向雄性方向发育。     

Adenosine Receptor Expression in the Development of Renal Fibrosis Following Ischemic Injury

Long-term renal allograft survival has not improved despite improvements in short term outcomes. Graft loss is characterized histologically by the development of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). Mechanisms underlying the development of IFTA are multifactorial and include ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Therapeutic options to reduce IFTA include management of immunologic causes, such as rejection, but despite these efforts IFTA can still occur and leads to the inexorable destruction of the transplanted kidney. The adenosine A_2B receptor (A_2BR) has recently been implicated in the development of renal fibrosis. We performed an observational study to examine the mRNA expression of the adenosine receptors after renal ischemia up to the development of renal fibrosis in a mouse model of unilateral IRI. A_2BR was the only adenosine receptor that showed elevated expression following ischemia until the development of renal fibrosis 4 weeks after injury. At 2 weeks after ischemia, increased expression of the fibrotic markers transforming growth factor β and Collagen-1α was observed. Expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1α and endothelin-1, which lie downstream of A_2BR activation and have been recognized to promote renal fibrosis, were also significantly up-regulated at 2 weeks after ischemia. Expression of fibrotic markers returned to baseline by 4 weeks after ischemia, indicating resolution of injury with the concurrent development of renal fibrosis and reduced renal function. Our data suggest that A_2BR may be a therapeutic target in reducing the development of renal fibrosis after ischemia.     

胃癌组织中生长激素受体的表达

目的 研究生长激素受体(GHR)在人胃癌组织中的表达情况.方法 采用免疫组织化学法检测57例胃癌标本及其远端正常组织中GHR的表达.结果 胃癌组织中GHR表达阳性率为80.7%(46/57),远断端正常组织中GHR表达阳性率为70.2%(40/57),两者比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).胃癌组织中GHR的表达与肿瘤分化程度、组织学类型、性别和年龄均无关(P>0.05).结论 胃癌组织和远端正常组织中GHR的表达基本一致.