A novel hypothesis: specific oncogenes and tumor suppression genes are involved in the expression of the proopiomelanocortin gene by small cell lung cancer.
The endogenous opioid beta-endorphin, a derivative of proopiomelanocortin, stimulates the growth of cloned human small cell lung carcinoma. The present hypothesis states that mutations of the retinoblastoma gene (a tumor suppressor gene) associated to the malignant transformation of bronchial cells would trigger a cascade of biomolecular events leading to 'de novo' proopiomelanocortin expression in small cell lung carcinoma.
Amsler
U J
UJ
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143.
Pasi
A
A
Qu
B X
BX
D000182:ACTH Syndrome, Ectopic / Q000209:etiology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016161:Genes, Retinoblastoma; D016762:Genes, fos; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000502:physiology; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000172:deficiency / Q000502:physiology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin