title: Amplification and rearrangement of L-myc in human small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: DNA amplification of cellular proto-oncogenes is a well-established and common mechanism of oncogene activation in several types of human tumors, including the rapidly fatal small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Approximately one fourth of primary SCLC tumors contain amplified copies of one of the three myc proto-oncogenes. Occasionally DNA amplification of the myc genes is associated with DNA rearrangements. Specifically, a novel locus named rlf is often involved in intrachromosomal L-myc rearrangements in SCLC. The structurally similar rearrangements are probably due to a highly repetitive region upstream of the L-myc gene, and result in the formation of a chimeric rlf-L-myc fusion protein. The consistent finding of the rlf-L-myc rearrangement in SCLC suggests that it may provide a selective advantage to the cells harboring it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saksela
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alitalo
mesh_terms: D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification / Q000235:genetics*; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins