Amplification and expression of c-Ki-ras oncogene in human ovarian cancer.
The amplification and expression of the cellular oncogene c-Ki-ras have been detected in twelve tissue specimens of human ovarian adenocarcinoma, one ascites of ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer cell line NIH: OVCAR-3. Four out of the twelve cancer tissue specimens, one specimen of cancer ascites cells and the NIH: OVCAR-3 cancer cell line showed elevated amplification of c-Ki-ras, as compared to the human fibroblast cell line FS4 and normal ovarian tissues. The amplification of the c-Ki-ras gene showed some correlation with clinical stages of ovarian cancer. The levels of c-Ki-ras specific RNA transcripts and ras gene product p21 were also elevated in these four cancer tissue specimens. Surprisingly, a discrepancy between amplification and expression of c-Ki-ras was noted in five of the other eight cancer tissue specimens, in which enhanced expression of c-Ki-ras was present without the accompanying elevated amplification of c-Ki-ras. The results do provide some clues to understanding the possible mechanisms of tumorigenesis in human ovarian cancer.
Department of Biochemistry, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
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Chien
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Chang
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Chow
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D004261:DNA Replication; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012313:RNA; C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)