Coexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor protein and c-erbB-2 oncoprotein in human astrocytic tumors. An immunohistochemical study

Abstract

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.