BACKGROUND: It has been previously found that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) is highly expressed in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region (SCCHN) and that this expression correlates with malignant transformation and tumor development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 9 SCCHN cell lines and a control keratinocyte cell line for EGF-R expression, utilizing fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Western blot analysis. Immuno-cytochemistry was performed to evaluate the receptor's cellular distribution. RESULTS: We found the EGF-R to be up-regulated in SCCHN. Surprisingly we did not see a clear correlation between tumor staging, grading or Stat3 signaling and EGF-R level but we observed up to three distinct EGF-R specific bands in our Western blots, implicating the presence of different protein isoforms. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that not only the amount but also the receptor function, including the presence of mutations, need to be considered in SCCHN malignancies.
BACKGROUND: It has been previously found that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) is highly expressed in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck region (SCCHN) and that this expression correlates with malignant transformation and tumor development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined 9 SCCHN cell lines and a control keratinocyte cell line for EGF-R expression, utilizing fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and Western blot analysis. Immuno-cytochemistry was performed to evaluate the receptor's cellular distribution. RESULTS: We found the EGF-R to be up-regulated in SCCHN. Surprisingly we did not see a clear correlation between tumor staging, grading or Stat3 signaling and EGF-R level but we observed up to three distinct EGF-R specific bands in our Western blots, implicating the presence of different protein isoforms. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that not only the amount but also the receptor function, including the presence of mutations, need to be considered in SCCHN malignancies.
Authors: El Mustapha Bahassi; Ya-Qin Li; Trisha M Wise-Draper; Li Deng; Jiang Wang; Colleen N Darnell; Keith M Wilson; Susanne I Wells; Peter J Stambrook; Olivier Rixe Journal: Eur J Cancer Date: 2013-04-08 Impact factor: 9.162