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c-kit (CD117) Expression in Human Tumors and its Prognostic Value: An Immunohistochemical Analysis

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

c-kit functions as a tyrosine kinase receptor and represents a target for small molecule kinase inhibitors. The expression pattern for c-kit was studied in different human tumor types to their correlation with prognosis. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from 282 patients were analyzed immunohistochemically for c-kit expression. Survival and follow-up data were available from 192/282 (68%) patients. c-kit immunopositivity was found in 62/282 (22%) cases. c-kit expression was found in 14/83 (17%) colorectal cancers, in 13/62 (21%) breast cancers, in 7/20 sarcomas (35%), in 5/14 (36%) renal cell carcinomas, in 2/12 ovarian cancers (17%) and in 2/12 (17%) hepatocellular carcinomas. We found no significant correlation between c-kit expression and prognosis although a trend to a worse prognosis in patients with c-kit positive tumors could be observed. Expression of c-kit was found in tumor samples with varying intensities and infrequently.

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Abbreviations

GIST:

gastrointestinal stromal tumors

PDGF:

platelet-derived growth factor

PKCθ:

protein kinase C theta

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from Novartis, Nürnberg, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tumor Biology Center, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Michael Medinger, Klaus Mross, Clemens Unger & Marc Azemar

  2. Institute of Pathology, Albert-Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

    Manuela Kleinschmidt & Hans-Eckart Schaefer

  3. Novartis AG, Nürnberg, Germany

    Barbara Wehmeyer

  4. Internal Medicine, Münchnerstr. 14, 86163, Augsburg, Germany

    Renate Weber

  5. Laboratory of Tumor Biology & Angiogenesis, Department of Hematology & Oncology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innrain 66, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Michael Medinger

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  1. Michael Medinger
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Correspondence to Michael Medinger.

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Medinger, M., Kleinschmidt, M., Mross, K. et al. c-kit (CD117) Expression in Human Tumors and its Prognostic Value: An Immunohistochemical Analysis. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 16, 295–301 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-010-9247-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-010-9247-9

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