Molecular and Immunohistochemical Study of Class I Growth Factor Receptors in Squamous Cell Lung Carcinomas

• Published in: Pathology, research and practice research and practice, 1995-10, Vol.191 (10), p.973-981
• Main Authors: Gorgoulis, V., Sfikakis, P.P., Karameris, A., Papastarnatiou, H., Trigidou, R., Veslemes, M., SpandidOs, D.A., Sfikakis, P., Jordanoglou, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Base Sequence; c-erbB-1; c-erbB-2; c-erbB-3; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - chemistry; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - secondary; Cell Differentiation; DNA Primers; Gene Amplification; Genes, erbB - genetics; Humans; Immunobistocbemistry; Immunohistochemistry; Lung Neoplasms - chemistry; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Molecular Sequence Data; Oncogene Proteins v-erbB - analysis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - analysis; Receptors, Growth Factor - analysis; Retrospective Studies; Squamous cell lung carcinoma
• ISSN: 0344-0338; 1618-0631
• DOI: 10.1016/S0344-0338(11)80595-9

The class I growth factor receptor family includes epidermal growth factor receptor, i.e. c-erbB-1, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 molecules. These receptors have a significant sequence homology and play an important role in cell growth and differentiation. To further investigate their implication in squamous cell lung carcinomas (SgCLCs), we studied the protein expression by immunohistochemistry and examined for possible gene amplification by a novel semi-quantitative differential polymerase chain reaction (DPCR) technique. Expression o f c-erbB-1, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 was present in 65%, 28% and 10% respectively, o f 40 SgCLCs cases. Seven o f the 11 cases that expressed c-erbB-2, as well as all 4 c-erbB-3 expressing cases, also stained with the anti-c-erbB-1 mAb. Expression o f c-erbB-1, but not o f c-erbB-2 or c-erbB-3, correlated with the grade o f tumor differentiation (100%, 64% and 36% positive cases o f well, moderately and poorly differentiated cases respectively, p < 0.003). In addition, c-erbB-1 expression correlated with the presence o f regional lymph node metastases within the moderately differentiated group. The c-erbB-1 gene was amplified in 11/40 (28%) cases, all o f which overexpressed c-erbB-1 protein, while c-erbB-2 gene amplification was detected in only one case. There was no c-erbB-3 gene amplification in any o f the 40 SqCLCs cases. These findings suggest that c-erbB1, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3 receptors do not have a common role and are o f different physiological importance, at least at the stage o f clinically overt tumor in human SqCLCs.