Heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor‐like growth factor isoforms and epidermal growth factor receptor/ErbB1 expression in bladder cancer and their relation to clinical outcome

Abstract

The current study results confirm that EGFR expression is significantly correlated with disease-specific mortality but that the outcome is also influenced by the mode of HB-EGF signaling. Additional nuclear HB-EGF signaling, indicative of increased cleavage of proHB-EGF, appears to enhance the adverse activities. Cytoplasmic HB-EGF staining likely reflects proHB-EGF, which may also exert antiproliferative effects.