Korean J Urol.  1994 Oct;35(10):1041-1046.

Detection of C-erbB-2 Internal Domain in Bladder Tumor

• Kim WJ
• Lee HM
• Song HG

Abstract

c-erbB-2 overexpression appears to play a role in determining the malignant potential of some human cancers. Using a specific monoclonal antibody to c-erbB-2 internal domain, 25 transitional cell carcinoma and I squamous cell carcinoma specimens of the human bladder, and 30 cases of BBN induced rat bladder tumors were analyzed immunohistochemically to detect the expression of this putative transmembrane receptor. c-erbB-2 internal domain was not expressed in rat urinary bladder carcinomas induced by BBN, but in 32% (8/25) of human transitional cell carcinomas. Although c-erbB-2 was expressed in human bladder tumor, there was no correlation between expression of this oncoprotein and characteristics of bladder tumor. Positivity for c-erbB-2 oncoprotein was easily identifiable as an intense red staining localized predominantly at the cell membrane, supporting the view that c-erbB-2 protein is a transmembrane molecule. In most of the positive tumors, the distribution of staining is heterogenous. This suggests that small populations of tumor cells that have elevated levels of c-erbB-2 oncoprotein can be detected by staining. The availability of antisera that detect many oncoproteins in paraffin embedded tissue makes it feasible to design retrospective and prospective studies on selected groups of patients.

Keyword

Bladder tumor; BBN; C-erbB-2 internal domain

MeSH Terms

Animals
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell
Cell Membrane
Humans
Immune Sera
Oncogene Proteins
Paraffin
Rats
Receptor, erbB-2
Retrospective Studies
Urinary Bladder Neoplasms*
Urinary Bladder*
Immune Sera
Oncogene Proteins
Paraffin
Receptor, erbB-2