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Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor in astrocytic tumours is specifically associated with glioblastoma multiforme.
Journal article

Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor in astrocytic tumours is specifically associated with glioblastoma multiforme.

  • 1992-01-01
Published in:
  • Virchows Archiv. A, Pathological anatomy and histopathology. - 1992
Astrocytoma
Blotting, Southern
Blotting, Western
Brain Neoplasms
ErbB Receptors
Gene Expression
Glioblastoma
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
English Epidermal growth factor and its receptor (EGFR) constitute an important and well-characterized mitogenic system in various ectodermal tissues including glial cells. Over-expression of the EGFR due to gene amplification has been reported in primary brain tumours of glial origin. Using a monoclonal antibody to the EGFR and immunohistochemical analysis, we examined the expression and distribution of EGFR in 103 astrocytic tumours. In addition, selected tumours were studied by Western blotting using a polyclonal antibody to EGFR and by Southern blot analysis. Glioblastomas (WHO grade IV) showed EGFR expression in 37% of cases, whereas pilocytic (WHO grade I), low-grade (WHO grade II) or anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) were invariably EGFR negative. Generally, there was a close correlation between the presence of EGFR gene amplification and over-expression of receptor protein. Different patterns of immunoreactive cells and significant intratumour heterogeneity of EGFR expression were observed in glioblastomas. The specific association of EGFR over-expression with glioblastoma may provide a useful diagnostic tool for distinguishing anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) and glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV).
Language
  • English
Open access status
closed
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/global/documents/185364
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