Quantitative analysis of ErbB1 and ErbB2 genes amplification by a high performance liquid chromatography

Genes for human epidermal growth factor receptors B1 [ErbB1] and B2 [ErbB2] were amplified in breast and ovarian cancers. Both of them were associated with aggressive disease and worse prognosis. The ErbB1 or ErbB2 status of a tumor may provide an indication of the response to ErbB1 and ErbB2 -targeted therapies. For accurate and rapid assessment of amplification of ErbB1 and ErbB2 oncogenes, a High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] method was developed in this study. DNA was extracted from 30 primary breast tumors and 20 blood samples of healthy donors. ErbB1 and ErbB2 genes along with a reference gene were co-amplificated by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR]. The PCR products were separated and quantified using an anion- exchange column within 30 min and in a single step. Optimum resolution was obtained when a sodium chloride gradient and a column temperature of 35°C were used. The results of HPLC analysis of ErbB1 and ErbB2 PCR products were compared with real time PCR method as a gold standard test for 7 tumor samples. The proposed HPLC method was confirmed by real time PCR method. Twenty two and ten of the specimens in our breast cancer cohort showed more than a two-fold amplification of ErbB2 and ErbB1 oncogenes, respectively. Our results were confirmed by real time PCR and showed that HPLC method is a specific, cheap and clinically applicable analytical approach for assessment of ErbB1 and ErbB2 statuses in breast tumors