Oncogene amplification in neoplastic development and progression of human cancers.
Increased dosage of cellular oncogenes resulting from amplification of DNA is a frequent genetic abnormality of tumor cells. Certain types of human tumors carry a specific amplified cellular oncogene at frequencies of up to 50 to 60%. Human neuroblastoma has been prototypic for a contribution of amplification to tumorigenesis, and evidence is emerging that amplification may be an early event involved in a malignant form of this cancer. It is unclear at which stage amplification plays a role in other cancers. Amplification of cellular oncogenes is a good predictor for clinical outcome in some human malignancies and is a paradigm for the application of oncogene research in a clinical context.
Schwab
M
M
Department of Experimental Pathology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg.
D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics; D009857:Oncogenes