title: Overexpression of N-ras oncogene and epidermal growth factor receptor gene in human glioblastomas.
abstract: Five human glioblastoma cell lines were analyzed for oncogene activation with a panel of probes. Abnormal expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) gene was detected in four of five lines; N-ras oncogene overexpression was found in all five cell lines. These results were subsequently confirmed with fresh brain tumor and nonneoplastic brain tissue biopsy samples; increased expression of the N-ras proto-oncogene was observed in five of five glioblastomas, all of which also showed EGFr gene overexpression, but not in well-differentiated gliomas or in nonneoplastic brain tissue specimens. No significant differences in Ha-ras and Ki-ras expression were observed. Preliminary histochemical observations showed that intracellular levels of transforming growth factor alpha, a putative biochemical link between these two oncogenes, were significantly higher in glioblastoma cells than in controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gerosa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talarico
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fognani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raimondi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colombatti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tridente
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Carli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Della Valle
mesh_terms: D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D015342:DNA Probes; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D066246:ErbB Receptors