This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Baron, A. T. Articles by Maihle, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Baron, A. T. Articles by Maihle, N. J.

A Preliminary Study of Serum Concentrations of Soluble Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (sErbB1), Gonadotropins, and Steroid Hormones in Healthy Men and Women¹

Tumor Biology Program [A. T. B., J. M. L., N. J. M.], Department of Health Sciences Research, Cancer Center Statistics Unit [V. J. S., D. W. H.], and Departments of Family Medicine [M. C. B.] and Gynecologic Surgery/Oncology [C. H. B., K. C. P.], Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, and Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224 [E. A. P.]

Soluble ErbB (sErbB) growth factor receptors are being investigated as cancer biomarkers. Gonadotropic and steroid hormones have been shown to modulate the expression of ERBB family members in vivo. Accordingly, the range of sErbB1 values and their relationship to gonadotropic and steroid hormones need to be established in healthy subjects to provide a baseline for future clinical studies. We assayed sera from healthy men and women to determine p110 sErbB1 concentrations by acridinium-linked immunosorbent assay (ALISA). Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and testosterone concentrations were measured using the ACS:180 Immunoassay Analyzer. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone concentrations were quantified using the Access® Immunoassay System. Unadjusted for age, p110 sErbB1 concentrations in healthy men and women do not differ significantly. However, sErbB1 concentrations show a strong age-gender interaction, increasing with age in men but decreasing with age in women. Consequently, sErbB1 concentrations are significantly higher in premenopausal women compared with either postmenopausal women or age-matched men and in age-matched men compared with postmenopausal women. Serum sErbB1 concentrations show significant negative associations with both FSH and LH concentrations in healthy women and a significant positive association with FSH concentrations in healthy men. Univariate linear regression models show that these respective gonadotropic hormones and age are independent predictors of sErbB1 concentrations in men and women. Multivariate models show that when age and FSH and LH concentrations are mutually adjusted for each other, they account for 22% of the variability observed in sErbB1 concentrations in healthy women. These data support the hypothesis that gonadotropic and steroid hormones may modulate ERBB1 expression in vivo and suggest that age- and gonadotropin-adjusted sErbB1 concentrations may be of clinical utility. Furthermore, these data demonstrate that gender, age, menstrual cycle phase, menopausal status, and exogenous hormone use must be considered when using serum p110 sErbB1 concentrations as cancer biomarkers.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Lafky, A. T. Baron, E. M. Cora, D. W. Hillman, V. J. Suman, E. A. Perez, J. N. Ingle, and N. J. Maihle Serum Soluble Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Concentrations Decrease in Postmenopausal Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Letrozole Cancer Res., April 15, 2005; 65(8): 3059 - 3062. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. T. Baron, C. H. Boardman, J. M. Lafky, A. Rademaker, D. Liu, D. A. Fishman, K. C. Podratz, and N. J. Maihle Soluble Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (SEG-FR) and Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125) as Screening and Diagnostic Tests for Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2005; 14(2): 306 - 318. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. G. Sheffield and J. J. Gavinski Proteomics Methods for Probing Molecular Mechanisms in Signal Transduction J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2003; 86(13_suppl): E115 - 124. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. REITER and N. J. MAIHLE Characterization and Expression of Novel 60-kDa and 110-kDa EGFR Isoforms in Human Placenta Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., May 1, 2003; 995(1): 39 - 47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. G. Sheffield and J. J. Gavinski Proteomics methods for probing molecular mechanisms in signal transduction J Anim Sci, March 1, 2003; 81(suppl_3): 48 - 57. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. T. Baron, E. M. Cora, J. M. Lafky, C. H. Boardman, M. C. Buenafe, A. Rademaker, D. Liu, D. A. Fishman, K. C. Podratz, and N. J. Maihle Soluble Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (sEGFR/sErbB1) as a Potential Risk, Screening, and Diagnostic Serum Biomarker of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2003; 12(2): 103 - 113. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]