Production and characterization of a polyclonal antibody to the c‐erbB‐3 protein: Examination of c‐erbB‐3 protein expression in adenocarcinomas

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Abstract
A polyclonal rabbit antibody was raised to the c‐erbB‐3 protein using a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 1229–1241 of the predicted protein sequence of c‐erbB‐3. In Western blot analysis this antibody detects a single band at ˜165kD in a c‐erbB‐3 transfected (293/HER‐3) human cell line. c‐erbB‐3 protein expression was then examined in a variety of adenocarcinomas. Expression of c‐erbB‐3 protein was indicated by membrane and/or cyto‐plasmic tumour cell immunoreactivity in formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue sections. c‐erbB‐3 protein was detected in a series of 13 out of 14 primary breast carcinomas, 3 of 5 gastric adenocarcinomas, 8 of 9 colonic adenocarcinomas, 2 of 9 prostatic adenocarcinomas, 0 of 6 renal cell carcinomas, 1 of 4 primary lung adenocarcinomas, and 5 of 7 endometrial adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemical expression of the c‐erbB‐3 protein appears to be a relatively common event in adenocarcinomas, and further studies are now warranted to establish the role of the c‐erbB‐3 protein in neoplasia.