Dietzmann K, von Bossanyi P
Department of Neuropathology, Medical School, Otto-von-Guericke University of Magdeburg, Germany.
Zentralbl Pathol. 1994 Nov;140(4-5):335-41.
C-erbB-2-oncoprotein and the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein are transmembrane glycoproteins with an external ligand-binding domain and a nearly homologous internal tyrosine kinase domain. In the present study it was investigated in 63 astrocytic tumors (9 astrocytomas G1, 18 astrocytomas G2, 17 anaplastic astrocytomas G3 and 19 glioblastomas G4) whether the structural homology of both glycoproteins correlated with the coexpression in astrocytic tumor cells. The immunoreactive products were identified by a computerized image analysis. There was no expression of the EGFR-protein in low grade astrocytomas (G1, G2) measured by density of gray level. The immunoreactivity increased remarkably in anaplastic and malignant gliomas. The number of the c-erbB2-oncoprotein-reactive tumor cells increased with the progression and dedifferentiation of tumors. Significant differences could be found between low grade anaplastic astrocytoma as well as glioblastoma. The correlative analysis resulted in a significant positive homology with increasing grading level between the expression of EGFR- and c-erbB-2 protein. The trend goes in the same direction. The results emphasize that EGFR- and c-erbB-2 protein were expressed in astrocytic tumors with increased malignancy and dedifferentiation.
C-erbB-2癌蛋白和表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）蛋白是跨膜糖蛋白，具有一个外部配体结合结构域和一个几乎同源的内部酪氨酸激酶结构域。在本研究中，对63例星形细胞瘤（9例G1级星形细胞瘤、18例G2级星形细胞瘤、17例间变性星形细胞瘤G3级和19例胶质母细胞瘤G4级）进行了研究，以探讨这两种糖蛋白的结构同源性是否与星形细胞瘤细胞中的共表达相关。通过计算机图像分析鉴定免疫反应产物。通过灰度密度测量，低级别星形细胞瘤（G1、G2）中未检测到EGFR蛋白的表达。在间变性和恶性胶质瘤中，免疫反应性显著增加。c-erbB2癌蛋白反应性肿瘤细胞的数量随着肿瘤的进展和去分化而增加。在低级别间变性星形细胞瘤和胶质母细胞瘤之间可发现显著差异。相关性分析结果显示，EGFR和c-erbB-2蛋白的表达随着分级水平的增加存在显著的正同源性。趋势一致。结果强调，EGFR和c-erbB-2蛋白在恶性程度增加和去分化的星形细胞瘤中表达。
