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Expression and gene copy number analysis of ERBB2 oncogene in prostate cancer

Savinainen, Kimmo J ; Saramaki, Outi R ; Linja, Marika J ; Bratt, Ola LU ; Tammela, Teuvo L J ; Isola, Jorma J and Visakorpi, Tapio (2002) In American Journal of Pathology 160(1). p.339-345
Abstract
An anti-ERBB2 antibody, trastuzumab, has been shown to be highly efficient in the treatment of metastatic breast cancers overexpressing the ERBB2 gene. It has been suggested that overexpression and even amplification of ERBB2 may play a role in the development of prostate cancer. Here, we have analyzed gene copy number and expression of the ERBB2 gene in both androgen-dependent primary and metastatic tumors, as well as recurrent hormone-refractory tumors. The expression levels were compared to the expression of ERBB2 in breast cancers with or without ERBB2 gene amplification. Of 126 prostate tumors, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) revealed only 1 case containing borderline (six to eight copies) amplifications of ERBB2. This... (More)
An anti-ERBB2 antibody, trastuzumab, has been shown to be highly efficient in the treatment of metastatic breast cancers overexpressing the ERBB2 gene. It has been suggested that overexpression and even amplification of ERBB2 may play a role in the development of prostate cancer. Here, we have analyzed gene copy number and expression of the ERBB2 gene in both androgen-dependent primary and metastatic tumors, as well as recurrent hormone-refractory tumors. The expression levels were compared to the expression of ERBB2 in breast cancers with or without ERBB2 gene amplification. Of 126 prostate tumors, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) revealed only 1 case containing borderline (six to eight copies) amplifications of ERBB2. This hormone-refractory tumor, however, did not express ERBB2 protein. Immunohistochemical staining of ERBB2 protein was negative (0 or 1+ intensity) in all prostate samples (n = 124) analyzed. To quantitate the level of ERBB2 mRNA expression in prostate tumors (n = 34) and cell lines (n = 3), as well as in breast tumors (n = 30) and cell lines (n = 16), real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (LightCycler) methodology was used. The expression level was similar in all prostate tumor types and corresponded to the level of expression in breast carcinomas without ERBB2 amplification. Breast tumors with ERBB2 amplification expressed, on average, approximately 20 times (P < 0.001) higher mRNA levels than prostate tumors or breast carcinomas without the gene amplification. In conclusion, the expression of ERBB2 in prostate cancer is relatively low, and is not altered during disease progression. Thus, it is unlikely that treatment modalities relying on the overexpression of ERBB2 gene will be useful in treating prostate cancer. (Less)
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
American Journal of Pathology
volume
160
issue
1
pages
339 - 345
publisher
American Society for Investigative Pathology
external identifiers
  • wos:000173231700037
  • scopus:0036142778
ISSN
1525-2191
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
b407ed96-dd6e-48bd-b4d6-e3fee40d04bb (old id 1297473)
alternative location
http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/1/339
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:42:01
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:57:32
@article{b407ed96-dd6e-48bd-b4d6-e3fee40d04bb,
  abstract     = {{An anti-ERBB2 antibody, trastuzumab, has been shown to be highly efficient in the treatment of metastatic breast cancers overexpressing the ERBB2 gene. It has been suggested that overexpression and even amplification of ERBB2 may play a role in the development of prostate cancer. Here, we have analyzed gene copy number and expression of the ERBB2 gene in both androgen-dependent primary and metastatic tumors, as well as recurrent hormone-refractory tumors. The expression levels were compared to the expression of ERBB2 in breast cancers with or without ERBB2 gene amplification. Of 126 prostate tumors, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) revealed only 1 case containing borderline (six to eight copies) amplifications of ERBB2. This hormone-refractory tumor, however, did not express ERBB2 protein. Immunohistochemical staining of ERBB2 protein was negative (0 or 1+ intensity) in all prostate samples (n = 124) analyzed. To quantitate the level of ERBB2 mRNA expression in prostate tumors (n = 34) and cell lines (n = 3), as well as in breast tumors (n = 30) and cell lines (n = 16), real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (LightCycler) methodology was used. The expression level was similar in all prostate tumor types and corresponded to the level of expression in breast carcinomas without ERBB2 amplification. Breast tumors with ERBB2 amplification expressed, on average, approximately 20 times (P &lt; 0.001) higher mRNA levels than prostate tumors or breast carcinomas without the gene amplification. In conclusion, the expression of ERBB2 in prostate cancer is relatively low, and is not altered during disease progression. Thus, it is unlikely that treatment modalities relying on the overexpression of ERBB2 gene will be useful in treating prostate cancer.}},
  author       = {{Savinainen, Kimmo J and Saramaki, Outi R and Linja, Marika J and Bratt, Ola and Tammela, Teuvo L J and Isola, Jorma J and Visakorpi, Tapio}},
  issn         = {{1525-2191}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{339--345}},
  publisher    = {{American Society for Investigative Pathology}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Pathology}},
  title        = {{Expression and gene copy number analysis of ERBB2 oncogene in prostate cancer}},
  url          = {{http://ajp.amjpathol.org/cgi/content/abstract/160/1/339}},
  volume       = {{160}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}