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Prognostic relevance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and c-neu/erbB2 expression in glioblastomas (GBMs)

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Summary

Seventeen untreated primary adult glioblastomas were analyzed using immunocytochemistry for the expression of EGF-R, c-neu/erbB2, TGF-α, and phosphotyrosine. Patients were divided by median survival into long-term or short-term survivors (LTS, N=10, median > 4 years; versus STS, N=7, median 61 weeks). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, extent of resection, post-operative Karnofsky status, or treatment. Diagnostic sections from each tumor were stained with antibodies to EGF-R, c-neu/erbB2, TGF-α and phosphotyrosine. Double-labelling for TGF-α and EGF-R was also performed. All 10/10 LTS were considered to be EGF-R negative/scant, while 4/7 STS were EGF-R positive. EGF-R negativity significantly correlated with long-term survival. The differences in c-neu/erbB2 expression did not reach significance. However, 4/7 STS were positive for both proteins and 76% of the 17 cases were either double negative or positive for EGF-R and c-neu/erbB2. TGF-α and phosphotyrosine were frequently expressed, but neither were prognostic. Recurrent tumors were studied in 7 STS. EGF-R expression was increased in 4/7 of these cases and c-neu/erbB2 was increased in all 7 cases, compared to the pretreatment baselines. Increased expression of these proteins in glioblastomas may be associated with aggressive clinical behavior and treatment resistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, New York University Medical Center, 10016, New York, New York, USA

    Emile M. Hiesiger & D. Marie Pierz

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, New York University Medical Center, 10016, New York, New York, USA

    Emile M. Hiesiger, Roberta L. Hayes & D. Marie Pierz

  3. Department of Microbiology, New York University Medical Center, 10016, New York, New York, USA

    Roberta L. Hayes

  4. Department of Pathology, and the Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York University Medical Center, 10016, New York, New York, USA

    Gleb N. Budzilovich

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  1. Emile M. Hiesiger
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Hiesiger, E.M., Hayes, R.L., Pierz, D.M. et al. Prognostic relevance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) and c-neu/erbB2 expression in glioblastomas (GBMs). J Neuro-Oncol 16, 93–104 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01324695

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