EXPRESSION OF A TRUNCATED EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEIN (TEGFR) IN OVARIAN-CANCER

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) system has been implicated in the etiology of numerous cancers, including that of ovarian cancer . Elevated levels of EGFR are associated with poor patient prognosis. Moreover, a significant number of ovarian cancers express both the rec eptor and one of its ligands, suggesting an autocrine mechanism for au tonomous tumor growth. Because of the implicated role of the EGFR syst em in neoplasia, a greater understanding of the factors involved in th is system is necessary. We have recently characterized a truncated EGF R-like protein (TEGFR) in human placenta, and we now extend this inves tigation to ovarian cancer. We report that TEGFR is expressed in ovari an cancer and its level correlates to that of EGFR. Moreover, the leve l of TEGFR is reduced in metastatic compared to primary tumors. These results suggest that TEGFR may play a role in the EGFR system. (C) 199 7 Academic Press.