Expression of c-fos and c-myc proto-oncogenes in human adrenal pheochromocytomas.
We examined c-fos and c-myc expressions in pheochromocytoma tissues from six patients. All samples contained c-fos and c-myc transcripts, whereas mRNA from bovine adrenal medulla, as a control, did not contain these transcripts at detectable levels. Southern blot analysis revealed no amplification and no rearrangement of c-fos and c-myc genes. We also examined the gene expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II), a mitogen for rat pheochromocytoma cells exerted by autocrine or paracrine fashion. All samples from the pheochromocytomas contained IGF-II transcripts as well as c-fos and c-myc transcripts. The constitutive expressions of c-fos and c-myc genes may be interpreted to mean that pheochromocytoma is in a state of growth stimulation in vivo by growth factors, including IGF-II.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
K
K
Goto
A
A
Ogo
T
T
Yanase
M
M
Haji
M
M
Ohashi
H
H
Nawata
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm