RGD Reference Report - Protein levels and gene expressions of the epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in benign and malignant ovarian tumors. - Rat Genome Database

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Protein levels and gene expressions of the epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in benign and malignant ovarian tumors.

Authors: Dahl Steffensen, K  Waldstrom, M  Fredslund Andersen, R  Olsen, DA  Jeppesen, U  Knudsen, HJ  Brandslund, I  Jakobsen, A 
Citation: Dahl Steffensen K, etal., Int J Oncol. 2008 Jul;33(1):195-204.
RGD ID: 2298499
Pubmed: PMID:18575766   (View Abstract at PubMed)

The epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 play a key role in the growth of malignant tumors. The receptors of the EGF receptor family are not cancer-specific proteins since these receptors are expressed to some extent in both normal and benign tissue, but this is not elucidated in detail in ovarian tissue. High tumor-to-normal-tissue concentration ratios would be favorable for molecular targeted anti-cancer treatment. The primary aim of the study was to analyze the potential differential protein content and gene expression of the four receptors in benign and malignant ovarian tumors. Tissue from 207 patients (101 malignant, 19 borderline, 64 benign ovarian tumors and 23 normal ovaries) were analyzed by quantitative ELISA for HER1-HER4 protein concentrations and by real-time PCR for HER1-HER4 gene expression. HER2 was also analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The HER2-4 receptor protein content and the median gene expression level was significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients compared to patients with benign ovarian tumors and normal ovaries (p<0.0000001). The protein content of the HER1 receptor was significantly lower in ovarian cancer compared to borderline tumors (p=0.012), benign ovarian tumors (p=0.049) and to normal ovaries (p=0.000069). A sound correlation between the protein levels and gene expressions was documented. In conclusion, decreased concentration of HER1 protein and increased HER2, HER3 and HER4 protein concentration were observed, as also elevated HER2-HER4 gene expression levels in ovarian cancer patients with barely any overlap of the HER3 and HER4 expression in malignant ovarian tumors compared to benign ovarian tissues.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Ovarian Neoplasms  IEP 2298499protein:decreased expression:ovaryRGD 
Ovarian Neoplasms  IEP 2298499; 2298499; 2298499mRNA and protein:increased expression:ovaryRGD 
Ovarian Neoplasms  ISOEGFR (Homo sapiens)2298499; 2298499protein:decreased expression:ovaryRGD 
Ovarian Neoplasms  ISOERBB2 (Homo sapiens)2298499; 2298499mRNA and protein:increased expression:ovaryRGD 
Ovarian Neoplasms  ISOERBB3 (Homo sapiens)2298499; 2298499mRNA and protein:increased expression:ovaryRGD 
Ovarian Neoplasms  ISOERBB4 (Homo sapiens)2298499; 2298499mRNA and protein:increased expression:ovaryRGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Egfr  (epidermal growth factor receptor)
Erbb2  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2)
Erbb3  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 3)
Erbb4  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Egfr  (epidermal growth factor receptor)
Erbb2  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2)
Erbb3  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 3)
Erbb4  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
EGFR  (epidermal growth factor receptor)
ERBB2  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 2)
ERBB3  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 3)
ERBB4  (erb-b2 receptor tyrosine kinase 4)


Additional Information