title: Sequential expression and cooperative interaction of c-Ha-ras and c-erbB genes in in vivo chemical carcinogenesis.
abstract: The level of expression of several cellular protooncogenes is examined at different stages of 7,12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)-induced tumor development in hamster buccal pouch epithelium (HBPE). Results presented demonstrate overexpression of c-Ha-ras gene at a very early stage of tumor development, and this elevated level of expression of the gene persists throughout the tumorigenesis process. The expression of the cellular protooncogene c-erbB, on the other hand, can be detected only after 8-10 weeks of DMBA treatment of the tissue and increases with the progression of the disease. The overexpression of c-erbB gene can be correlated with the stage of extensive proliferation and subsequent invasion of the HBPE cells into the underlying connective tissue. This sequential pattern of stage-specific expression of the two cellular protooncogenes can be observed in (i) treated tissues, (ii) stage-representative cultured cells, and (iii) NIH 3T3 transformants derived with DNA from HBPE cells. The low-level expression of c-myc and c-sis genes detected in control tissues remains unaffected, while c-fos gene activity cannot be detected at any stage of tumor development. The overexpression of c-Ha-ras gene alone in HBPE cells derived from tissues treated for 5 weeks (DM5) is not sufficient to induce tumors in athymic mice, whereas expression of c-Ha-ras and c-erbB genes at later stages of tumor development (DM10 and HCPC cells) induce histopathologically defined epithelial cell carcinoma in athymic mice within 2-3 weeks. The sequential overexpression of c-Ha-ras and c-erbB genes in a stage-specific manner and their cooperative interaction in the DMBA-induced in vivo oral carcinogenesis have been demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02115.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Husain
authors.forename: Y B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Solt
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Polverini
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Biswas
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D006224:Cricetinae; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene