Gene amplification of int-2 and erbB in human esophageal cancer: relationship to clinicopathological variables.
Gene amplification is a relatively frequent event in human malignant tumors and is believed to play an important role in tumor progression. The int-2 and erbB genes are amplified more frequently than any other genes in human esophageal cancer. In order to investigate the correlation between these two proto-oncogenes and the clinical behavior of esophageal cancer, we examined DNA amplification of int-2 and erbB and analyzed their relationship to clinicopathological variables. Genomic DNA was extracted from 21 esophageal squamous carcinomas and normal esophageal mucosa, as well as from 4 metastatic tumors. We used Southern blot analysis for detection of gene amplification. Amplification of int-2 was observed in 13 of 21 cases (62%) and in all the metastatic tumors (4/4; 100%). We found a significant correlation between amplification of int-2 and the length of the primary lesion. Amplification of erbB was detected in 3 of 18 patients (17%). All patients who showed amplification of erbB also demonstrated amplification of int-2. These results suggest that amplification of int-2 or neighboring genes on 11q may participate in tumor progression and metastasis in patients with esophageal squamous cancer.
Suzuki
H
H
Second Department of Surgery, Akita University School of Medicine, Japan.
Abo
S
S
Kitamura
M
M
Hashimoto
M
M
Izumi
K
K
Terada
K
K
Sugiyama
T
T
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C496444:FGF3 protein, human; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors