title: Genetic alteration of the c-myc protooncogene (MYC) in human primary breast carcinomas.
abstract: We have studied the genomic organization of the c-myc locus (MYC) from 121 human primary breast carcinomas. Two types of alterations were observed: (i) the c-myc protooncogene appeared to be amplified 2- to 15-fold in 38 (32%) of the carcinoma DNAs and (ii) a non-germ-line c-myc-related fragment of variable size was detected in 5 primary breast carcinoma DNAs. With three exceptions, all the tumors containing a genetic alteration of the c-myc locus were invasive ductal carcinomas. A significant correlation (P less than 0.02) was observed between patients more than 50 years old and the presence of a genetically altered c-myc. Enhanced levels of c-myc RNA were observed in 10 of 14 breast carcinomas examined. The c-myc gene was genetically altered in 6 of these 10 tumors. The frequency with which the c-myc gene is altered and its correlation with age suggest that it may play a role in the development of breast carcinomas.
mesh_terms: D000232:Adenofibroma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000367:Age Factors; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen