EGFR but not PDGFR-beta expression correlates to the antiproliferative effect of growth factor withdrawal in glioblastoma multiforme cell lines.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The aim of the current study was to investigate a putative relationship between (i) growth characteristics (proliferation and tumorigenicity) of nine glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines under different growth-stimulating conditions in vitro and (ii) their basal expression of a panel of growth factor receptors/autocrine cytokines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Basal expressions of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta), platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) and PDGF-BB, tumor growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and TGF-beta as well as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined by immunocytochemistry at standard cell culture conditions (10% fetal calf serum [FCS]). Proliferation and tumorigenicity at 10% FCS and relative serum starvation (0.5% FCS) were assessed by using Coulter counting and soft agar cloning, respectively.

RESULTS:

The ratio between cell multiplications at 10% and 0.5% FCS over a 10-day period was defined as a measure of growth factor dependence of cellular proliferation. Expression of EGFR (but not of PDGFR-beta) strongly correlated to this ratio (Spearman rank correlation coefficient R = 0.87). No considerable correlations were present among other appropriate pairs of variables with biologically founded putative relationships.

CONCLUSION:

Greater expression of EGFR is associated with increased growth factor dependence of cellular proliferation. Our results strengthen the role of EGFR as a rational molecular target of therapeutic intervention in GBM.

• Authors: Marc-E Halatsch, Esther Gehrke, Farhad A Borhani, Thomas Efferth, Carola Werner, Panos Nomikos, Ursula Schmidt, Michael Buchfelder
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) 2003 May-Jun Vol. 23 Issue 3B Pg. 2315-20 ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 12894509 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
• Transforming Growth Factor alpha
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• platelet-derived growth factor A
• Becaplermin
• ErbB Receptors
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta

Topics

• Becaplermin
• Cell Division (physiology)
• ErbB Receptors (biosynthesis)
• Glioblastoma (metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (biosynthesis)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
• Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta (biosynthesis)
• Transforming Growth Factor alpha (biosynthesis)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (biosynthesis)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (biosynthesis)