Double- and competitive-differential PCR for gene dosage quantitation
B Brandt1, A Beckmann, A Roetger
1Klinisher Chemiker, Münster, Germany.
Methods in Molecular Medicine
|February 23, 2011
Summary
Ovarian cancer patients with higher c-erbB-2 gene amplification showed shorter survival times. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression also correlated with poorer prognosis in ovarian cancer patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Dysregulation of DNA replication and activation of erbB oncogenes are linked to various cancers.
- c-erbB-2 amplification is observed in 26% of ovarian tumors, with a strong correlation to mRNA and protein expression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 amplification and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in ovarian cancer.
- To explore the relationship between gene amplification/overexpression and patient survival outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of c-erbB-2 amplification and expression levels (mRNA, protein) in ovarian cancer tissues.
- Correlation analysis between gene amplification/expression and median survival time.
- Review of existing literature on EGFR (c-erbB-1) amplification, expression, and rearrangements in ovarian cancer.
Main Results:
- A perfect correlation was found between c-erbB-2 amplification and its expression at both mRNA and protein levels.
- Increased c-erbB-2 amplification was negatively correlated with median survival time in ovarian cancer patients.
- EGFR expression in ovarian cancer is associated with a worse prognosis, and rearrangements of the EGFR gene have been identified.
Conclusions:
- c-erbB-2 amplification is a significant negative prognostic marker in ovarian cancer.
- EGFR expression and potential gene rearrangements may also impact ovarian cancer prognosis and treatment response, warranting further investigation.
