Genomic copy number gains of ErbB family members predict poor clinical outcomes in glioma patients

The aim of this study was to investigate copy number of ErbB family members (including EGFR, HER2, HER3 and HER4) in a cohort of gliomas and benign meningiomas (control subjects), and explore the associations of their copy number with clinicopathological characteristics and clinical outcomes of glioma patients. Using real-time quantitative PCR assay, we demonstrated that copy number of EGFR, HER2, HER3 and HER4 in glioma patients was significantly increased compared to control subjects. Moreover, our data also showed that the risk of cancer-related death was positively associated with copy number gain (CNG) of EGFR, HER3 and HER4, but not HER2. CNG of EGFR and HER2 was positively related to radiotherapy, while CNG of HER3 and HER4 was negatively related to chemotherapy. Importantly, EGFR CNG significantly shortened median survival times of glioma patients regardless of gender, tumor grade and therapeutic regimens. Stratified analysis showed that CNG of HER2-4 almost did not influence the survival of male patients, patients with high-grade tumors and patients receiving chemotherapy, but dramatically shortened median survival times of female patients, those with low-grade tumors and those receiving radiotherapy. Collectively, our data not only demonstrate that the members of ErbB family are frequently amplified in gliomas, but also suggest that these common genetic events may be prognostic factors for poor clinical outcomes in glioma patients.