Survey of oncogene and growth factor/receptor gene expression in cancer cells by intron-differential RNA/PCR.
To elucidate the possible roles of proto-oncogenes and growth factors in estrogen-regulated cell proliferation of human breast and gynecologic cancers, we have determined the gene expressions of c-myc, transforming growth factor-alpha and beta 1 (TGF-alpha, beta 1) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in a number of these cancer cell lines by using an intron-Differential (ID) RNA/PCR method, which differentially identifies the amplified cDNA from PCR products of genomic DNA contaminants. With this method, we demonstrated the expression of these genes, except EGFR, in an estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell line (CAMA-1). Our results show that TGF-alpha/EGF does not function as an autocrine factor in this cell line. Accordingly, it is unlikely that the TGF-alpha/EGFR system participates as a mediator in the estrogen-induced cell proliferation of CAMA-1 cells. The ID RNA/PCR method is a rapid, sensitive and specific technique for mRNA phenotyping and will have great clinical utility.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455.
H J
HJ
Ji
Q Q
QQ
Zhang
B S
BS
Leung
D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015870:Gene Expression; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA; D066246:ErbB Receptors