title: Amplification of the EGF receptor and c-myc genes in human esophageal cancers.
abstract: The incidence of esophageal cancer is extremely high in Linxian County and certain other regions of the People's Republic of China. Epidemiologic and laboratory studies suggest that N-nitroso carcinogens and other environmental factors play a causative role. In the present study, employing over 100 DNA samples obtained from Lin-xian patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer, we have found a significant frequency of amplification of either the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER-I) gene or the c-myc oncogene. These changes were found not only in tumor specimens, but also in adjacent non-tumor (grossly normal) tissue specimens obtained from patients with esophageal cancer. RNA samples were also obtained from over 30 tissue samples. These revealed considerable variation in the abundance of HER-I and c-myc transcripts in both the tumor and adjacent non-tumor specimens. A few samples revealed extremely high levels of these transcripts. Thus, changes in gene copy number or level of expression of HER-I or c-myc DNA sequences may play an important role in the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer in this high-risk region.
authors: Cancer Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing.
authors: S H
authors: SH
authors: Lu
authors: L L
authors: LL
authors: Hsieh
authors: F C
authors: FC
authors: Luo
authors: I B
authors: IB
authors: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D009857:Oncogenes; D012313:RNA / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012313:RNA; D066246:ErbB Receptors