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Expression of the c-erbB-2-encoded oncoprotein and progesterone receptor in human meningiomas

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Abstract

The present study investigated the expression of c-erbB-2 in 59 meningiomas, including different histological subtypes and anaplastic variants, by immunocytochemistry and molecular biological techniques. Immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody FWP-51 directed against c-erbB-2-encoded oncoprotein gp185 demonstrated variable degrees of immunoreactivity in all meningiomas. The intensity of immunostaining correlated with the degree of expression as assessed by Western analysis in 28 meningiomas using polyclonal antiserum 21N. There was no correlation between the degree of expression and histological variants. Immunoreactivity of all menigiomas was distinctly less intense, however, than that of the human breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3, and slightly lower than that of brain metastases of breast and ovarian carcinomas that served as positive controls for both methods. By Southern analysis all meningiomas showed a single copy of the c-erbB-2 gene. Non-neoplastic arachnoid cap cells also exhibited c-erbB-2 expression and the degree of immunoreactivity was comparable with the majority of meningiomas. These data argue against an overexpression of c-erbB-2 in meningiomas, but rather indicate a cell-type-specific constitutive expression of the c-erbB-2 gene product in meningiomas and their putative progenitor cells. Since a subgroup of meningiomas is known to express progesterone receptors (PR), gp185 immunoreactivity was compared to the hormone receptor status using monoclonal antibody KD68. Fifty-six percent meningiomas showed PR immunoreactivity, but there was no statistically significant correlation with the degree of gp185 expression.

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Author notes

  1. Jürgen Schlegel

    Present address: Institut für Pathologie, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee, D-93042, Regensburg, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Neuropathologie, Universität Heidelberg, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Jürgen Schlegel, Beate Ullrich, Gabriele Stumm, Peter Gass & Marika Kiessling

  2. Friedrich-Miescher-Institut, CH-4002, Basel, Switzerland

    Ina-Maria Harwerth & Nancy E. Hynes

Authors
  1. Jürgen Schlegel
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  2. Beate Ullrich
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  4. Peter Gass
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  5. Ina-Maria Harwerth
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  6. Nancy E. Hynes
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  7. Marika Kiessling
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Additional information

This study was supported by a grant of the Tumorzentrum Heidelberg/Mannheim (M.K., No. 10028060)

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Schlegel, J., Ullrich, B., Stumm, G. et al. Expression of the c-erbB-2-encoded oncoprotein and progesterone receptor in human meningiomas. Acta Neuropathol 86, 473–479 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228582

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228582

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