Abstract
The c- erbB-2 proto-oncogene encodes a transmembrane protein which is homologous to the epidermal growth factor receptor. This protein can be localized immunohistochemically in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded material using a monoclonal antibody NCL-CB11; positive membrane staining correlates with gene amplification and protein overexpression in breast cancer. Using this technique we have shown that only 2 26 (8%) of hepatocellular carcinomas, 0 10 (0%) of cholangiocarcinomas and 0 2 (0%) hepatoblastomas overexpressed c- erbB-2 as evidenced by membrane staining. Moreover c- erbB-2 mRNA was not detected in seven hepatocellular carcinomas examined by Northern blot analysis. c- erbB-2 overexpression is, therefore, unlikely to be contributing to the malignant phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma.
Published Version
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