A subclass of HER1 ligands are prognostic markers for survival in bladder cancer patients

Helle-Merete Vissing Thøgersen, B S Sørensen, S S Poulsen, T F Orntoft, H Wolf, E Nexo, Steen Seier Poulsen

100 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family have been suggested as prognostic markers in patients with bladder cancer. Thus far, there has been no consensus on their usefulness. We report an analysis of six ligands and two receptors of which a subset correlate to tumor stage and survival. Biopsies from bladder cancer tumors were obtained from 73 patients followed for a median of 28 months. The mRNA content for six ligands [EGF, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha), amphiregulin (AR), betacellulin (betaCL), heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), epiregulin (EPI)] and two receptors [EGF receptor I Human EGF Receptor (HER1) and 2 (HER2)] was examined by a newly developed quantitative reverse transcription-PCR method. Five ligands and two receptors (HER1 and HER2) were present in median concentrations of (10(-21) mol/microg RNA) 0.39 (AR), 11 (betaCL), 2.4 (EPI), 40 (HB-EGF), 1.4 (TGF-alpha), 75 (HER1), and 39,000 (HER2). EGF was barely detectable. A significantly higher expression of EPI (P <0.001), HB-EGF (P <0.001), and TGF-alpha (P <0.05) were observed in T2-T4 tumors as compared with Ta tumors. Especially the expression of EPI mRNA correlated strongly to survival (P <0.0005), but increased expression of TGF-alpha (P <0.005), AR, and HB-EGF (P <0.02) was also associated with a reduced life span. For the first time, mRNA expression of six ligands and two receptors of the EGF family have been examined in bladder cancer tumors. Our data emphasize that members of the EGF family, especially EPI, may be potential bladder tumor markers.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCancer Research
Volume61
Issue number16
Pages (from-to)6227-33
Number of pages7
ISSN0008-5472
Publication statusPublished - 15 Aug 2001

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Female
  • Glycoproteins
  • Growth Substances
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Receptor, erbB-2
  • Transforming Growth Factor alpha
  • Tumor Markers, Biological
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

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