Expression of receptor tyrosine kinases epidermal growth factor receptor and HER-2/neu in synovial sarcoma

BACKGROUND: Synovial sarcomas are high-grade soft tissue neoplasms often characterized by a biphasic spindle and epithelioid cell morphology. The majority of synovial sarcomas harbor a specific chromosomal translocation in which the proximal portion of the SYT gene at chromosome 18q11 is fused to the distal portion of one of several duplicated SSX genes (most notably SSX1 and SSX2) at chromosome Xp11. SYT/SSX1 translocations are seen in nearly three times as many synovial sarcomas as SYT/SSX2 translocations. Although the SYT/SSX2 fusion is usually associated with the monophasic disease pattern, the SYT/SSX1 fusion is present in tumors with biphasic or monophasic patterns. The SYT/SSX1 fusion gene is associated with more aggressive tumor growth and poor outcome. Despite advances in the therapy of local disease, distant metastasis remains the predominant cause of death. Accordingly, there is a need for alternate therapies, such as those recently developed against the receptor tyrosine kinases, such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER-2/neu. METHODS: Archival specimens of synovial sarcoma (n=38) representing 30 patients were assessed for EGFR and HER-2/neu protein expression by standard immunohistochemical techniques. To validate the immunohistochemistry results, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assays using either fresh and/or archival material was performed. The presence of gene amplification was determined by chromogenic in-situ hybridization. RESULTS: EGFR and HER-2/neu protein were detected by immunohistochemistry in 21 of 38 (55.3%) and 20 of 38 (52.6%) synovial specimens, respectively. EGFR immunoreactivity showed a granular and membranous pattern, whereas HER-2/neu immunoreactivity demonstrated only a membrane pattern. Coexpression was observed in 13 of 38 specimens (34.2%). HER-2/neu expression by immunohistochemistry in synovial sarcomas was restricted to tumors with the SYT/SSX1 translocations. Of 6 specimens with SSX2 translocation, none (0%) showed HER-2/neu immunoreactivity and 1 (17%) demonstrated EGFR expression. Q-PCR demonstrated the presence of mRNA for EGFR and HER-2/neu in 19 of 30 specimens (63.3%) and 22 of 30 specimens (73.3%), respectively. EGFR and HER-2/neu were expressed at low concentrations compared with the expression of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). No evidence of gene amplification was observed. CONCLUSIONS: EGFR and HER-2/neu are expressed in the majority of patients with SYT/SSX1 synovial sarcomas, albeit at low levels. Treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors may represent appropriate alternate therapy for these patients.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor family tyrosine kinases as signal integrators and therapeutic targets

Activating mutations, gene amplification and overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (erbB or HER) family kinases have been implicated as integral contributors to a variety of cancers. However, there is increasing evidence that the HER family receptors propagate not only signals initiated by their own ligands but also those initiated by multiple other signaling pathways. Attenuation of HER family signaling is a developing strategy for the management of human malignancies and is the subject of a number of ongoing clinical trials. The purpose of this review is to provide a timely update of recent reports in the rapidly evolving area of HER family biology and the emerging integral role of these receptors in malignant transformation and as targets of cancer therapy.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor (HER1) tyrosine kinase inhibitor ZD1839 (Iressa) inhibits HER2/neu (erbB2)-overexpressing breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Aberrrant signaling by the epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR (HER1, erbB1)] and/or HER2/neu tyrosine kinases is present in a cohort of breast carcinomas. Because HER2 is constitutively phosphorylated in some breast tumors, we speculated that, in these cancers, transmodulation of HER2 may occur via EGFR signaling. To test this possibility, we examined the effect of EGFR-specific kinase inhibitors against the HER2-overexpressing human breast tumor lines BT-474, SKBR-3, MDA-361, and MDA-453. ZD1839 (Iressa) is an ATP-mimetic that inhibits the purified EGFR and HER2 kinases in vitro with an IC(50) of 0.033 and >3.7 microM, respectively. The specificity of ZD1839 against EGFR was confirmed in Rat1 fibroblasts transfected with EGFR or HER2 chimeric receptors activated by synthetic ligands without the interference of endogenous receptors. Treatment of all breast cancer cell lines (except MDA-453) with 1 microM ZD1839 almost completely eliminated HER2 phosphorylation. In contrast, the incorporation of [gamma-(32)P]ATP in vitro onto HER2 receptors isolated from BT-474 cells was unaffected by 1 microM ZD1839. EGFR is expressed by BT-474, SKBR-3, and MDA-361 but not by MDA-453 cells, suggesting that ZD1839-mediated inhibition of the EGFR kinase explained the inhibition of HER2 phosphorylation in vivo. In SKBR-3 cells, ZD1839 exhibited a greater growth-inhibitory effect than Herceptin, a monoclonal antibody against the HER2 ectodomain. In both SKBR-3 and BT-474 cells, treatment with ZD1839 plus Herceptin induced a greater apoptotic effect than either inhibitor alone. Finally, ZD1839 completely prevented growth of BT-474 xenografts established in nude mice and enhanced the antitumor effect of Herceptin. These data imply that EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors will be effective against HER2-overexpressing breast tumor cells that also express EGFR and support their use in combination with HER2 antibodies, such as Herceptin, against mammary carcinomas with high levels of the HER2 proto-oncogene.     

erbB2/HER2在肺癌组织中的表达及意义

目的：研究erbB2基因在肺癌的表达,方法：应用免疫组织化学的方法检测20例正常肺组织和60例肺癌HER2（第二人体表皮生长因子受体,human epidermal-growth-factor receptor2,HER2)蛋白的表达。结果：HER2在正常肺组织无过度表达,肺癌中存在HER2的过度表达,过度表达率为66.7%。肺癌HER2的过度表达更多见于中晚期的肺癌,且与患者术后3年生存率呈负相关。结论：HER2在正常肺组织无过度表达,在肺癌中存在过度表达,提示erbB2基因编码的HER2蛋白在细胞的正常生长及肺癌的发展中均起一定的作用。有可能成为观察肺癌预后的一个指标。     

Src family kinases and HER2 interactions in human breast cancer cell growth and survival

Evidence from murine fibroblast models and human breast cancer cells indicates that c-Src and human EGF receptor (HER1) synergize to enhance neoplastic growth of mammary epithelial cells. To investigate whether interactions between c-Src and other HER family members may also play a role in breast tumor progression, we characterized 13 human breast carcinoma cell lines and 13 tumor samples for expression of HER family members and c-Src and examined a subset of the cell lines for Src-dependent, heregulin (HRG)-augmented, anchorage-dependent and independent growth. By immunoblotting, we found that all cell lines overexpressed one or more HER family member, and 60% overexpressed c-Src. Seventy-five per cent of the tumor tissues overexpressed HER2, while 64% overexpressed c-Src. Colony formation in soft agar was enhanced by HRG in three of five cell lines tested, a response that correlated with the presence of a c-Src/HER2 heterocomplex. This result suggests that HRG may act through both HER2 and c-Src to facilitate anchorage-independent growth. In contrast, HRG had little effect on anchorage-dependent growth in any of the cell lines tested. PP1, a Src family kinase inhibitor, reduced or ablated HRG-dependent and independent soft agar growth or anchorage dependent growth, and triggered apoptosis in all cell lines tested. The apoptotic effect of PP1 could be partially or completely reversed by HRG, depending on the cell line. These results suggest that while Src family kinases may cooperate with HRG to promote the survival and growth of human breast tumor cells, they also function independently of HER2/HRG in these processes.     

Coregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) levels and locations: quantitative analysis of HER2 overexpression effects

Elevated expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is known to alter cell signaling and behavioral responses implicated in tumor progression. However, multiple diverse mechanisms may be involved in these overall effects, including signaling by HER2 itself, modulation of signaling by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and modification of trafficking dynamics for both EGFR and HER2. Because these processes are so tightly interrelated, the net effect of HER2 overexpression is difficult to reliably attribute to any single particular mechanism. To take an important first step toward dissecting the effects of HER2 overexpression on cell responses in terms of the various specific underlying mechanisms, we have developed and validated a quantitative model of the relevant trafficking processes. We then use our model for successful prediction of EGFR and HER2 level and location changes attributable to HER2 overexpression in 184A1 human mammary epithelial cells expressing a series of HER2 levels by retroviral infection. Model predictions are based on our independent experimental measurement of key trafficking parameters for both EGFR and HER2. In terms of trafficking processes, HER2 overexpression reduces the EGFR internalization rate constant and increases the fraction of EGFR recycled. Consequently, our model successfully predicts that HER2 increases the overall level of activated EGFR by both enhancing its recycling and reducing its internalization, but it increases activated EGFR localization at the cell surface almost solely by its reduction of internalization. Furthermore, the model also successfully predicts the effects of monoclonal antibody 2C4, which interferes with HER2/EGFR heterodimerization, on EGFR and HER2 levels and compartmental locations. We anticipate that this model should ultimately be useful in parsing the relative contributions of direct effects of HER2 via signaling vis-a-vis indirect effects of HER2 via modification of EGFR signaling.     

HER2 overexpression increases sensitivity to gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, through inhibition of HER2/HER3 heterodimer formation in lung cancer cells

Gefitinib (Iressa), an epidermal growth factor receptor targeting drug, has been clinically useful for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib is currently being applied in clinical studies as either a monotherapy, or as part of a combination therapy against prostate, head and neck, gastric, breast, and colorectal tumors. However, success rates vary between different tumor types, and thus it is important to understand which molecular target(s) are responsible for limiting the therapeutic efficacy of the drug. In this study, we ask whether expression of HER2 affects sensitivity to gefitinib in human lung cancer cells. We established two clones, LK2/HER2-32 and LK2/HER2-57, by transfecting HER2 cDNA into LK2, a NSCLC line with a low expression level of HER2. We observed no mutations in exons 18, 19, and 21 of EGFR gene in LK2, LK2/mock- and two HER2-trasfectants when we observed in-frame deletion mutations (E746-A750) adjacent to K745 in a gefitinib-sensitive NSCLC cell line, PC9. These LK2/HER2-32 and LK2/HER2-57 were much more sensitive to the cytotoxic effects of gefitinib than the parental LK2 lines. Treatment with 0.5 to 1 micromol/L gefitinib specifically blocked Akt activation in both HER2-transfectant lines, but not in the parental LK2 cells. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 activation, however, was not blocked by gefitinib up to 10 micromol/L in either the parent or transfectant lines. Gefitinib was also shown to induce cell cycle arrest in the G1-S phase, and an accompanying increase of p27Kip1 was observed. LK2/HER2 transfectants showed constitutive formation of HER2/HER3 heterodimer, which were seen to associate with a regulatory subunit of phosphoinositide-3-kinase, p85alpha, when active. Treatment of LK2/HER2 cells with gefitinib markedly decreased the formation of HER2/HER3 heterodimers, HER3 basal phosphorylation, and the association of p85alpha with HER3. This study is the first to show that under basal growth conditions, HER2 sensitizes low-EGFR NSCLC cell lines to growth inhibition by gefitinib.     

Co-expression of HER2 and HER3 receptor tyrosine kinases enhances invasion of breast cells via stimulation of interleukin-8 autocrine secretion

Tamoxifen is a drug that has been in worldwide use for the treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer for over 30 years; it has been used in both the metastatic and adjuvant settings. Tamoxifen's approval for breast cancer risk reduction dates back to 1998, after results from the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, co-sponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project, showed a 49% reduction in the incidence of invasive, ER-positive breast cancer in high-risk women. Despite these positive findings, however, the public's attitude toward breast cancer chemoprevention remains ambivalent, and the toxicities associated with tamoxifen, particularly endometrial cancer and thromboembolic events, have hampered the drug's uptake by high-risk women who should benefit from its preventive effects. Among the strategies to overcome such obstacles to preventive tamoxifen, two novel and potentially safer modes of delivery of this agent are discussed in this paper. Low-dose tamoxifen, expected to confer fewer adverse events, is being investigated in both clinical biomarker-based trials and observational studies. A series of systemic biomarkers (including lipid and insulin-like growth factor levels) and tissue biomarkers (including Ki-67) are known to be favorably affected by conventional tamoxifen dosing and have been shown to be modulated in a direction consistent with a putative anti-cancer effect. These findings suggest possible beneficial clinical preventive effects by low-dose tamoxifen regimens and they are supported by observational studies. An alternative approach is topical administration of active tamoxifen metabolites directly onto the breast, the site where the cancer is to be prevented. Avoidance of systemic administration is expected to reduce the distribution of drug to tissues susceptible to tamoxifen-induced toxicity. Clinical trials of topical tamoxifen with biological endpoints are still ongoing whereas pharmacokinetic studies have already shown that appropriate formulations of drug successfully penetrate the skin to reach breast tissue, where a preventive effect is sought.     

Expression of receptor tyrosine kinases and apoptotic molecules in rhabdomyosarcoma: correlation with overall survival in 105 patients

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare mesenchymal tumor with few treatment options after the failure of first-line therapy. Understanding the expression of kinases and apoptotic molecules in RMS tumors may lead to elucidation of mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy and development of new therapies. METHODS: Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were collected from 105 RMS patients treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and examined for the immunohistochemical expression of kinases and apoptotic molecules deemed potential therapeutic targets. Clinicopathologic information was collected on all patients and analyzed for correlation with overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Of the 105 patients, 44 (42%) were female and 89 (85%) were older than 10 years of age. The 5-year OS for this cohort was 24.7%, with inferior median OS in patients with genitourinary primary tumors and those with invasion through the deep fascial plane. Immunohistochemistry revealed Kit and c-erb-b2 to be present on < 10% of tumors but EGFR, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, Bcl-2, and Bax were present in > 40% of tumors. Patients whose tumors expressed PDGFR-alpha were found to have a shorter median OS by multivariate analysis (26 vs 266 months, P = .076). Conversely, patients whose tumors expressed Bax were found to have a longer OS (31 vs 19 months, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS: EGFR, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta, Bcl-2, and Bax are frequently expressed in human RMS tissue and may represent new therapeutic targets. Absence of PDGFR-alpha and the presence of Bax are associated with a longer median OS in patients with RMS. Targeting these molecules may be a successful therapeutic strategy.     

Expression of an altered epidermal growth factor receptor by human glioblastoma cells

The expression and activities of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and a highly related protein (Mr approximately 190,000 protein; p190) were characterized from a human glioma cell line, KE. p190 was specifically immunoprecipitated with a monoclonal antibody with specificity against the EGF receptor (Mr approximately 170,000; p170). Furthermore, both proteins were shown to possess tyrosine-protein kinase activities, although p170 required the presence of EGF to undergo autophosphorylation, whereas p190 appeared to be constitutively activated. Partial and total proteolytic polypeptide analyses of the two proteins suggested that their phosphopeptides were nearly identical and were phosphorylated on similar amino acid residues. However, a number of alterations were observed between [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides of p170 and p190. This was also supported by the finding that the size of the protein cores of p170 and p190 was different. This observation is in agreement with Northern blot analysis in which KE cells expressed a novel EGF receptor RNA of 10.5 kilobases in addition to the previously reported 10-kilobase RNA. Southern blot analysis of the EGF receptor gene also revealed some amplification, approximately 4- to 5-fold; however, no significant rearrangements were noted in the KE cell DNA. These results suggest that p190 represents an endogeneous structurally and functionally altered EGF receptor.     

Redundancy of autocrine loops in human rhabdomyosarcoma cells: induction of differentiation by suramin.

Three human rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines were used to investigate the presence of autocrine loops based on the production of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)/transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha and of their corresponding receptors, and whether these loops affect cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation. Two cell lines, RD/18 and CCA, deriving from tumours of the embryonal histotype, showed the presence of both growth factors and receptors which make possible three different autocrine loops, while the alveolar RMZ-RC2 cell line lacked that based on the EGF receptor. Culture of rhabdomyosarcoma cells in the presence of specific blocking antibodies, directed to a component of single autocrine loops, inhibited cell proliferation (up to 50%), without inducing myogenic differentiation. Suramin, a drug which non-selectively interferes with the binding of growth factors to their cellular receptors, was used to block all the autocrine loops simultaneously. In CCA and RMZ-RC2 cells suramin was able to induce a significant increase (up to 3-fold) in the proportion of myosin-positive cells over control cultures. Therefore rhabdomyosarcoma cells of embryonal and alveolar histotype can show a redundancy of growth-sustaining autocrine loops. Suramin could interfere with them by acting on both growth inhibition and induction of myogenic differentiation.     

Uncoupling of growth inhibition and differentiation in dexamethasone-treated human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.

The effects of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, and of N,N-dimethylformamide on in vitro growth and differentiation and on proto-oncogene expression of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells were studied. RD/18 clone cells (derived from the embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD) treated with 100 nM dexamethasone showed an almost complete block of differentiation: about 5% myosin-positive cells were observed after 2 weeks of culture in dexamethasone-supplemented differentiation medium, compared to 20% of untreated cultures. Dexamethasone also induced a 20-30% growth inhibition and a more flattened morphology. The treatment with N,N-dimethylformamide induced a significantly increased proportion of myosin-positive cells (reaching about 30%) and a 40% growth inhibition. Induction of differentiation inversely correlated with the levels of c-myc proto-oncogene expression: after a 2 week culture dexamethasone-treated cells showed the highest c-myc expression and N,N-dimethylformamide-treated cells the lowest. Culture conditions per se down-modulated c-erbB1 and up-regulated c-jun expression, with no relationship to the differentiation pattern. Other proto-oncogenes were not expressed (c-sis, N-myc, c-mos, c-myb) or were not modulated (c-fos, c-raf). Therefore dexamethasone and N,N-dimethylformamide, both causing a decreased growth rate, showed opposing actions on myogenic differentiation and on c-myc proto-oncogene expression of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells.     

The role of HER2, EGFR,and other receptor tyrosine kinases in breast cancer

Breast cancer affects approximately 1 in 8 women, and it is estimated that over 246,660 women in the USA will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. Breast cancer mortality has decline over the last two decades due to early detection and improved treatment. Over the last few years, there is mounting evidence to demonstrate the prominent role of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in tumor initiation and progression, and targeted therapies against the RTKs have been developed, evaluated in clinical trials, and approved for many cancer types, including breast cancer. However, not all breast cancers are the same as evidenced by the multiple subtypes of the disease, with some more aggressive than others, showing differential treatment response to different types of drugs. Moreover, in addition to canonical signaling from the cell surface, many RTKs can be trafficked to various subcellular compartments, e.g., the multivesicular body and nucleus, where they carry out critical cellular functions, such as cell proliferation, DNA replication and repair, and therapeutic resistance. In this review, we provide a brief summary on the role of a selected number of RTKs in breast cancer and describe some mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies.     

erbB4/HER4基因和肿瘤

erbB４基因，又称HER４基因，是编码第四个表皮生长因子受体（HER４）的癌基因，该基因在正常的人体组织中有不同的表达，在多种肿瘤组织中存在过度表达，提示该基因在肿瘤的发生发展中起作用。１erbB４基因的由来erbB４基因起初是在新生鼠神经系统的发育中发现的，该基因在新生鼠神经系统的发育过程中普遍表达犤１犦。１９９３年，该基因在人体组织中被克隆，并发现它是编码Ⅰ型受体酪氨酸激酶（RTK）家族第四个成员HER４／P１８０erbB４的基因犤２犦。２erbB４基因／HER４蛋白的结构人类erbB４基因定位于２号染色体长臂，即２q３…     

Inhibition of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2) expression decreases the survival and myogenic differentiation of human rhabdomyosarcoma cells

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), a cysteine-rich protein of the CCN (Cyr61, CTGF, Nov) family of genes, emerged from a microarray screen of genes expressed by human rhabdomyosarcoma cells. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a soft tissue sarcoma of childhood deriving from skeletal muscle cells. In this study, we investigated the role of CTGF in rhabdomyosarcoma. Human rhabdomyosarcoma cells of the embryonal (RD/12, RD/18, CCA) and the alveolar histotype (RMZ-RC2, SJ-RH4, SJ-RH30), rhabdomyosarcoma tumor specimens, and normal skeletal muscle cells expressed CTGF. To determine the function of CTGF, we treated rhabdomyosarcoma cells with a CTGF antisense oligonucleotide or with a CTGF small interfering RNA (siRNA). Both treatments inhibited rhabdomyosarcoma cell growth, suggesting the existence of a new autocrine loop based on CTGF. CTGF antisense oligonucleotide-mediated growth inhibition was specifically due to a significant increase in apoptosis, whereas cell proliferation was unchanged. CTGF antisense oligonucleotide induced a strong decrease in the level of myogenic differentiation of rhabdomyosarcoma cells, whereas the addition of recombinant CTGF significantly increased the proportion of myosin-positive cells. CTGF emerges as a survival and differentiation factor and could be a new therapeutic target in human rhabdomyosarcoma.     

Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 signalling pathway by a dual receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor afatinib for radiosensitisation in murine bladder carcinoma

Given the promising control of bladder cancer achieved by combined chemotherapy/radiotherapy with selective transurethral resection, obstacles remain to the treatment of unresectable bladder cancer. The aim of this study was to determine whether targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) can radiosensitise a murine bladder tumour (MBT-2) cell line. Cell survival, expression of signal proteins and cell cycle changes in MBT-2 cells treated in vitro and in vivo with afatinib, an irreversible EGFR/HER2 inhibitor, plus radiotherapy were investigated by colony formation assay, Western blot assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Ectopic xenografts were established by subcutaneous injection of MBT-2 cells in C3H/HeN mice. Mice were randomised into 4 groups to receive afatinib (10 mg/kg/day on day 1–7) and/or radiotherapy (15 Gy on day 4). Positron emission tomography (PET) on day 8 was used to evaluate the early treatment response. Afatinib (200–1000 nM) increased cell killing by radiation (0–10 Gy). Pre-treatment of irradiated cells with afatinib inhibited radiation-activated HER2 and EGFR phosphorylation. As compared to either treatment alone, the combination increased the level of the cleavage form of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, the expression of phospho-γH2AX and the percentage of cells in subG1 phase (indicating enhanced induction of apoptosis), and decreased tumour metabolism and inhibited tumour growth by 64%. Afatinib has therapeutic value as a radiosensitiser of murine bladder cancer cells. The synergism between afatinib and radiation likely enhances DNA damage, leading to increased cell apoptosis.     

Amplification and/or overexpression of platelet-derived growth factor receptors and epidermal growth factor receptor in human glial tumors.

Analysis of genomic organization and expression of platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in human malignant gliomas showed amplification and overexpression of both receptors in distinct subsets of tumors. Amplification of the alpha PDGFR was detected in 4 of 50 glioblastomas (8%). EGFR was amplified in 9 of the 50 tumors (18%). Western blot analysis showed elevated expression of alpha PDGFR and EGFR proteins in 4 (24%) and 3 (18%), respectively, of 17 tumor specimens analyzed. Increased production of alpha PDGFR as well as EGFR proteins was observed in the presence or absence of gene amplification. Three of the 4 tumors with elevated levels of alpha PDGFR also overexpressed the beta PDGFR, which was present as a single copy gene in all 50 tumors analyzed. Our findings suggest that the amplification and/or overexpression either of EGFR or of the alpha PDGFR along with the coordinate overexpression of the beta PDGFR can contribute to the malignant phenotype of distinct subsets of human glioblastoma.     

Geldanamycin destabilizes HER2 tyrosine kinase and suppresses Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in HER2 overexpressing human breast cancer cells

HER2 (also known as ErbB2) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase whose surface overexpression is linked to tumorigenesis and poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. beta-catenin is a substrate of this kinase, and HER2-dependent phosphorylation of tyrosine 654 leads to dissociation of the E-cadherin-beta-catenin membrane complex and increased Wnt signaling. beta-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling promotes proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. In this study, we show that HER2 binds to beta-catenin and that geldanamycin (GA), a drug that destabilizes HER2 protein, causes rapid depletion of HER2, thereby disrupting its association with beta-catenin in SKBr3 human breast cancer cells. Interestingly, GA did not affect the stability of beta-catenin protein, but altered its subcellular localization, driving it out of the nucleus and increasing its association with E-cadherin. Importantly, the change in subcellular localization of beta-catenin was also associated with a significant decrease in proliferation and motility of GA-treated breast cancer cells. Moreover, GA treatment led to reduced expression of the Wnt signaling target and cell cycle-promoting gene cyclin D1, providing a potential mechanism for the reduced proliferation. In conclusion, GA treatment suppressed tumorigenicity in the human breast cancer cell line SKBr3, at least in part through destabilization of the HER2 oncoprotein and repression of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. These findings provide evidence for the clinical importance of GA in treatment of HER2 overexpressing breast cancers.     

Src family kinases mediate epidermal growth factor receptor signaling from lipid rafts in breast cancer cells

Activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) regulates cellular proliferation, survival, and migration of breast cancer cells. In particular, EGFR recruits signaling proteins to the cell membrane leading to their phosphorylation and activation. However, EGFR also localizes to other cellular structures, including endosomes, mitochondrion, and nuclei. Recently, we demonstrated that lipid raft localization of EGFR in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines promotes EGFR protein-dependent, EGFR kinase-independent activation of Akt. Here, we further define the mechanism by which lipid rafts regulate EGFR signaling to Akt. Specifically, we show that the non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Src co-localizes and co-associates with EGFR and lipid rafts. Breast cancer cells resistant to treatment with EGFR inhibitors, were also resistant to treatment with Src family kinase (SFK) inhibitors; however, the combination of EGFR and SFK inhibitors synergistically decreases cell viability. We found that this decrease in cell viability observed with EGFR and SFK inhibitor co-treatment correlates with loss of Akt phosphorylation. In addition, we found that in breast cancer cell lines with EGFR and c-Src co-localized to lipid rafts, phospho-inositide 3 kinase (PI3K) was also associated with lipid rafts. Together, the data herein suggest that lipid rafts provide a platform for the interaction of EGFR, c-Src, and PI3K, leading to activation of cellular survival signaling in breast cancer cells.