Immunohistochemical detection of the H-ras, K-ras, and N-ras oncogenes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
The expression of H-ras, K-ras and N-ras oncogenes was analyzed on frozen sections of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) by immunohistochemistry using anti-ras monoclonal antibodies. Of 22 primary SCCHN, 15 (68%) stained positive for H-ras, 10 (45%) for K-ras and seven (32%) for N-ras. Thirteen specimens (59%) stained positive for at least two anti-ras monoclonal antibodies. The presence of immunohistochemically detectable H-ras, K-ras and N-ras proteins was most frequently associated with an increase in tumor size and later stages of disease (T3 and T4), with no apparent correlation with lymph node involvement, site of occurrence, degree of differentiation, age, sex, or race. Thus, overexpression of members of the ras gene family occurs as a relatively common even in SCCHN and may be an important event in the later stages of tumorigenesis.
McDonald
J S
JS
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Ohio 45267.
Jones
H
H
Pavelic
Z P
ZP
Pavelic
L J
LJ
Stambrook
P J
PJ
Gluckman
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D044383:Black People; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012737:Sex Factors; D044465:White People; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018631:ras Proteins