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Raf-1 kinase, epidermal growth factor receptors, and mutant ras proteins in colonic carcinomas

  • Gastrointestinal Oncology
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Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) andras mutations are known to play a significant role in controlling cell growth and tumor promotion. Both of them transmit mitogenic signals to the nucleus by activation of Raf-1 kinase. In this study, the expression of EGFR and mutant Ras proteins, and, for the first time, the expression, phosphorylation and kinase activity of Raf-1 kinase have been determined in paired samples of colorectal cancer and mucosa. The tumor and mucosa samples did not differ significantly with regard to Raf-1 kinase content and activity. A major difference between tumors and mucosa was found, however, in the phosphorylation of Raf-1. Most of the mucosa samples (13/20), but only 1/20 of the cancer samples, contained hyperphosphorylated Raf-1. EGFR were significantly (p=0.0025) decreased in the tumors. The decreased phosphorylation of Raf-1 in colonic carcinomas could be the result of activation of Raf-1 phosphatases or inactivation of kinases phosphorylating Raf-1. New forms of treatment based on EGFR overexpression do not seem to be suitable for the majority of colonic cancers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Abteilung Allgemeine Chirurgie mit Poliklinik, Chirurgische Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany

    S. Eggstein MD, G. Manthey MT, T. Hirsch PhD, F. Baas MA, B. U. V. Specht MD & E. H. Farthmann MD

Authors
  1. S. Eggstein MD
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  2. G. Manthey MT
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  3. T. Hirsch PhD
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  4. F. Baas MA
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  5. B. U. V. Specht MD
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  6. E. H. Farthmann MD
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Additional information

This work was supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg (Verbundforschungsprojekt: Aufklärung von Mechanismen der Tumorentstehung und Tumorabwehr).

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Eggstein, S., Manthey, G., Hirsch, T. et al. Raf-1 kinase, epidermal growth factor receptors, and mutant ras proteins in colonic carcinomas. Digest Dis Sci 41, 1069–1075 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088221

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02088221

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