C-ERBB GROWTH-FACTOR-RECEPTOR PROTEINS IN OVARIAN-TUMORS

Immunohistochemical expression of EGF-R, c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3, member s of the type-1 family of receptor tyrosine kinases, were investigated in 67 primary ovarian-tumour samples (46 malignant, 8 borderline and 13 benign), and related to tumour clinicopathological features. The in cidence of all 3 receptor proteins was highest in overtly malignant tu mours. No significant correlations were observed between either EGF-R or c-erbB-3 and clinical parameters such as tumour stage, differentiat ion or extent of debulking surgery, but c-erbB-2 was significantly ass ociated with several indicators of prognosis, including early stage an d good/moderate differentiation in optimally debulked tumours. Multipl e expression of c-erbB receptor proteins was also significantly higher in malignant tumours compared with borderline and benign tumours. Ear ly-stage tumours were also more likely to express multiple c-erbB-rece ptor proteins than were late-stage tumours. Co-expression of EGF-R wit h c-erbB-2, and c-erbB-2 with c-erbB-3 was significantly greater in ma lignant tumours than in borderline or benign tumours, and within the m alignant tumour group, positive associations were observed between EGF -R and c-erbB-3, also between c-erbB-2 and c-erbB-3. Because of the ev idence of increased expression of individual c-erbB proteins as well a s multiple expression of this family of growth-factor receptors in mal ignant ovarian tumours, we hypothesize that stimulation by the appropr iate ligands may confer a selective advantage to cells expressing more than one receptor. Increased expression of c-erbB growth-factor recep tors in malignancy may mediate increased propensity for tumour develop ment. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.