[Expression of EGF receptor and c-neu oncogene product in chordomas]

The expression of EGF receptor, c-neu oncogene product, and of transferrin receptor in 13 cases of chordomas (9 without metastasis and 4 with metastasis) was examined immunohistologically by the B-SA method using specific antibodies to these proteins. Tumor cells in 5 cases without metastasis and 3 cases with metastasis were positive for EGF receptor, those in 7 cases without metastasis and all cases with metastasis were positive for c-neu product, while those in all cases were negative for transferrin receptor. These results suggest a possible link between the expression of cellular genes associated with the growth of neuroectodermal cells and the growth of chordoma known to arise from the embryonal rest of the notochord.