Comparative analysis of the EGF-receptor family in pancreatic cancer: expression of HER-4 correlates with a favourable tumor stage.

Background: Of major interest for a better molecular understanding of pancreatic cancer is the EGF receptor family. While HER-1 (EGF-receptor) and HER-2 have been extensively studied, little is known about the clinical significance of HER-3 and especially HER-4 expression.

Methods: We investigated the expression of HER-1, HER-2, HER-3 and HER-4 in 11 pancreatic cancer cell lines using FACS-analysis and determined expression and overexpression of these receptors in 24 pancreatic cancer specimens.

Ribozyme targeting of HER-2 inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth in vivo.

We have analysed HER-2 expression and function in pancreatic cancer cells to determine whether HER-2 has a rate-limiting role for pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo. To specifically assess HER-2 function, we used HER-2-targeted ribozymes expressed under the control of the tet-off promoter system. Six out of 11 human pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed all four epidermal growth factor (EGF)-receptor family members (HER-1 (EGF-R), HER-2, HER-3, and HER-4), including Panc89 cells.

Immunocytological detection of isolated tumour cells in the bone marrow of malignant melanoma patients: a new method for the detection of minimal residual disease.

Aims: Immunocytologically detected isolated tumour cells indicate a poor prognosis. This has been shown in breast, gastrointestinal and lung cancer, and might thereby help to indicate adjuvant therapy. Immunocytology has been proved to be a reliable technique and enables a phenotypic tumour cell characterization.

Quality of life following radical surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma.

Quality of life (QOL) in patients with gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy has so far not been studied using the EORTC QLQ-C30 (Quality of Life Core Questionnaire of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) as a standardized European QOL instrument. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radical procedures such as extensive lymph node resection and combined resection of adjacent organs on patients' QOL. From 1992 to 1996, 152 patients underwent total gastrectomy.