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Updated: Nov 8, 2025
Quantitative Immunohistochemistry of the Cellular Microenvironment in Patient Glioblastoma Resections
Published on: July 31, 2017
The expression and prognostic value of the epidermal growth factor receptor family in glioma
Bin Xu1, Zhengyuan Huo1, Hui Huang1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, No. 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023, Jiangsu, China.
Background:
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family belongs to the transmembrane protein receptor of the tyrosine kinase I subfamily and has 4 members: EGFR/ERBB1, ERBB2, ERBB3, and ERBB4. The EGFR family is closely related to the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers.
Materials/Methods:
In this study, we used multiple online bioinformatics websites, including ONCOMINE, TCGA, CGGA, TIMER, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA and DAVID, to study the expression profiles, prognostic values and immune infiltration correlations of the EGFR family in glioma.
Results:
We found that EGFR and ERBB2 mRNA expression levels were higher in glioblastoma (GBM, WHO IV) than in other grades (WHO grade II & III), while the ERBB3 and ERBB4 mRNA expression levels were the opposite. EGFR and ERBB2 were notably downregulated in IDH mutant gliomas, while ERBB3 and ERBB4 were upregulated, which was associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, correlation analysis between EGFR family expression levels and immune infiltrating levels in glioma showed that EGFR family expression and immune infiltrating levels were significantly correlated. The PPI network of the EGFR family in glioma and enrichment analysis showed that the EGFR family and its interactors mainly participated in the regulation of cell motility, involving integrin receptors and Rho family GTPases.
Conclusions:
In summary, the results of this study indicate that the EGFR family members may become potential therapeutic targets and new prognostic markers for glioma.
Insights
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, comprising EGFR/ERBB1, ERBB2, ERBB3, and ERBB4, are tyrosine kinase receptors implicated in various cancers.
- Aberrant expression of EGFR family members is linked to tumorigenesis and progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression profiles, prognostic significance, and immune infiltration correlations of the EGFR family in glioma.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for glioma based on EGFR family member analysis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiple online bioinformatics databases (ONCOMINE, TCGA, CGGA, TIMER, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, DAVID) for comprehensive analysis.
- Examined mRNA expression levels, survival data, and immune cell infiltration associated with EGFR family members in glioma.
- Constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and performed enrichment analysis for the EGFR family in glioma.
Main Results:
- EGFR and ERBB2 mRNA levels were elevated in glioblastoma (GBM) compared to lower-grade gliomas, while ERBB3 and ERBB4 showed the inverse pattern.
- EGFR and ERBB2 were downregulated in IDH-mutant gliomas, whereas ERBB3 and ERBB4 were upregulated, correlating with poor prognosis.
- Significant correlations were observed between EGFR family expression and immune infiltrating levels in glioma; interactors primarily regulate cell motility via integrin receptors and Rho GTPases.
Conclusions:
- The EGFR family members demonstrate potential as novel therapeutic targets for glioma treatment.
- EGFR family members may serve as valuable prognostic markers for patients with glioma.
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