Expression and functional role of c-Kit and erbB2 in human hepatoblastoma.

Purpose: The receptor tyrosine kinases c-Kit and erbB2 are known to play a role in the development of progenitor cells and are often found to be expressed in different solid tumors. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of c-Kit and erbb2 in human hepatoblastoma, the most common primary hepatic malignancy in early childhood, and its functional role in hepatoblastoma cell biology. Methods: Expression of c-Kit and erbB2 on the protein level was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western Blot of lysates of primary tumors and cell lines HuH6, HepT1, HepT3 and HepG2. Single stran…