Expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor family in normal and malignant urothelium

摘要: OBJECTIVE To compare the immunohistochemically assessed expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family in normal and malignant bladder urothelium, suggest new hypotheses about their function development progression transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS EGFR, ERBB2, ERBB3 ERBB4 were evaluated urothelium (NU, 15), primary non-metastasized invasive TCC (NMC, 19) TCCs with corresponding metastases (MC, 51, both specimens). RESULTS All NU samples expressed ERBB4, none ERBB2 two EGFR; all staining was uniform throughout layers. increased decreased from to carcinomas. There no difference between NMCs MCs but more EGFR than MC samples. associations T category, grade or survival. All combinations levels for four receptors detected, dominant profile. CONCLUSION We hypothesise that: (i) is important differentiation NU; (ii) up-regulated carcinogenesis urinary does not discriminate cancer without metastases; (iii) may be a marker indolent disease. A current hypothesis, that superficial layers do express thus protect basal cells mitogenic effect EGF, challenged.