LOW-DENSITY-LIPOPROTEIN RECEPTOR-RELATED PROTEIN GENE AMPLIFICATION AND 766T POLYMORPHISM IN ASTROCYTOMAS

Low density lipoprotein receptor related protein (LRP) is a receptor f or protease complexes, and may function in cell growth and repair, and in tumor invasiveness. LRP expression increases in glioblastomas comp ared to lowergrade astrocytomas. Two potential mechanisms for this inc reased expression were investigated. The LRP C766T polymorphism is pro tective against Alzheimer's disease, perhaps through alteration of LRP expression. The frequency of the polymorphism was measured in astrocy toma patients and controls, but no significant difference was found. D ifferential PCR revealed LRP gene amplification in four of 25 high-gra de gliomas and 0 of 23 other brain tumors. Go-amplification with epide rmal growth factor receptor (EGFR) occurred in all four of the LRP-amp lified tumors. Thus, LRP amplification may be partly responsible for i ncreased LRP expression in astrocytomas, and may often occur in conjun ction with EGFR amplification. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.