title: Enhanced expression of the N-myc gene in Wilms' tumors.
abstract: Activation of myc-family oncogenes has been implicated in the genesis of a variety of neoplasms. In addition, these genes exhibit specific patterns of expression during murine development. We now report that N- and c-myc are differentially expressed in normal developing human renal tissues and in Wilms' tumor, a neoplasm which derives from primitive kidney cells. Twelve of 13 Wilms' tumors tested exhibited greatly enhanced levels of expression which occurred in the absence of gene amplification. We also detected N-myc expression in other primitive neoplasms including medulloblastoma and hepatoblastoma. Our observations suggest that N-myc expression is not limited to neuroectodermal tumors as was previously thought, but is a marker for several neoplasms that derive from primitive cell precursors. Finally, high level expression of N-myc was associated with markedly diminished levels of c-myc, suggesting that enhanced expression of N-myc gene might lead to down-regulation of c-myc.
mesh_terms: D005333:Fetus / Q000032:analysis; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics; D007668:Kidney / Q000032:analysis; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012313:RNA; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II