EXPRESSION PATTERNS OF THE NOVEL RECEPTOR-LIKE TYROSINE KINASE, DDR, IN HUMAN BREAST-TUMORS

Using a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction based differen tial screening procedure, Rie have identified the discoidin domain rec eptor as a protein tyrosine kinase that is expressed in lymph nodes co ntaining breast tumour metastases. By Northern blotting and in situ hy bridisation we have demonstrated the expression of the discoidin domai n receptor in human primary breast tumour samples, metastasis-containi ng lymph nodes and a numb;er of normal tissues. Direct comparison of m alignant breast and adjacent normal epithelial tissue revealed over ex pression in the tumour cells.