EXPRESSION OF THE ERBB FAMILY OF RECEPTORS IN OVARIAN-CANCER

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the relative levels of the ErbB family of r eceptors and their relationship to one another in ovarian cancer. METH ODS: A total of 17 serous cystadenocarcinomas were analyzed for epider mal growth factor receptor (EGF-R or ErbB-2) and ErbB-2, ErbB-3, and E rbB-4 receptor expression by Western blot analysis. Receptor levels we re quantified by densitometry and expressed as relative densitometry u nits normalized to the level of alpha-tubulin. Linear regression analy sis was used to analyze receptor group differences. A value of P less than or equal to .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS : All 17 tumors expressed detectable levels of EGF-R, ErbB-2, and ErbB -3, but ErbB-4 expression was not detected. EGF-R levels correlated wi th ErbB-2 (r = .07, P < .01) and ErbB-3 (r = .52, P < .05) levels. The highest correlation was obtained between the levels of ErbB-2 and Erb B-3 (r = 0.81, P < .001).CONCLUSION: This study indicates an associati on between the levels of ErbB receptor family members in ovarian cance r. This association suggests that one or more coordinated regulatory m echanisms may be involved in determining their relative expression lev els to one another. Copyright (C) 1998 by the Society for Gynecologic Investigation.