Expression of ErbB Receptors and their Cognate Ligands in Gastric and Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Background: ErbB receptors and their cognate ligands are implicated in cancer progression. Their expression in gastrointestinal cancer, however, has not been systemically studied. Materials and Methods: The expression of four ErbB receptors and a panel of ErbB ligands were determined by reverse transcription-PCR in two gastric (TMK1, MKN-45) and two colon (SW1116, HT-29) cancer cell lines. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay while gene knockdown was achieved by RNA interference. Results: ErbB1, ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptors and five known or putative ErbB ligands, namely, epiregulin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), heparin-binding EGF, transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) and neuroglycan-C were expressed in all four cell lines. Knockdown of neuroglycan-C, however, did not affect cell proliferation. Conclusion: This study profiles the expression of ErbB receptors and their cognate ligands in gastric and colon cancer cells. These findings might lay the basis for the development of ErbB pathway-directed therapeutics for gastrointestinal cancer.