Abstract
This chapter describes the expression and gene copy number alterations of HER-2/neu (ERBB2) gene in prostate cancer. The HER-2/neu gene (ERBB2) was initially identified as a transforming gene in chemically induced rat neuroblastomas. The gene, located at chromosomal region 17q21, encodes for a 185 kD transmembrane glycoprotein that contains tyrosine kinase activity and belongs to the epidermal growth factor receptor family. The human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER or ERBB) family consists of four distinct members—the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR or HER-1, HER-2, HER-3, and HER-4). Ligands for this receptor family include EGF, transforming growth factor- a, amphiregulin, betacellulin, heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor, and epiregulin and neuregulins 1, 2, 3, and 4. HER-2 is amplified and overexpressed in a wide variety of human tumors, mainly from epithelial origin. Especially, high amplification frequency (20–30%) has been found in breast cancer and the amplification and/or overexpression are associated with poor prognosis.
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