Her-2/Neu and Breast Cancer.
Abstract
The HER-2/neu (c-erbB2) protooncogene is overexpressed in up to 30% of breast and ovarian cancers. Overexpression as a 185 kilodalton transmembrane growth-factor-receptor/tyrosine-kinase (pl85HER%2) is an indicator of poor prognosis. Attempting to characterize the significance of alternative forms of pl85HER%2, I have focussed on a truncated p95 form comprising the transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains, and more recently, on an alternative transcript. Specifically, the SKOV-3 carcinoma cell line highly overexpresses HER-2/ neu protein and expresses an aberrant HER-2/ neu transcript of 8 kb, in addition to the 'normal' 4.5 kb transcript. This larger transcript may be the product of a gene rearrangement, as SKOV-3 cells exhibit amplification of the HER-2/neu gene, and Southern blotting experiments indicate a gene rearrangement. Current studies are aimed at characterizing this aberrant HER-2/neu transcript in terms of quantification, sequence analysis, and identifying its significance in overexpression of HER-2/neu protein. Since this transcript seems to be selected for in the malignant SKOV-3 cell line, it may confer enhanced oncogenic potential.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA315806
Entities
People
- Gail Clinton
- Joni Parker
Organizations
- Oregon Health & Science University