int-2 and c-erbB-2 gene amplification detected in 70 frozen human breast carcinomas by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Gene amplification is a common mechanism of proto-oncogene activation and contributes to tumor progression. Analysis of such genetic alterations is relevant to our understanding of tumor genetics and can provide prognostic information for the patients. A rapid, non-radioactive approach based on qdPCR and fluorescent DNA technique was applied for determination of int-2 and c-erbB2 gene amplification and correlated with other prognostic factors in 70 breast cancer samples. ER and PgR were analysed by immunohistochemistry. The mixed template assay showed 96% concordance between calculated and measured gene copy number. int-2 gene and c-erbB2 amplification were both found in 24% of the tumors. The amplification did not correlate with any of the other prognostic factors. 8% of the tumors showed amplification of both genes without significant correlations to any of the other parameters. The fd-PCR assay is a valuable tool for determination of amplification of int-2 and c-erbB2 genes. Therefore, more detailed information about individual tumour biology and outcome may be acquired by this routine assay and probably provide prognostic impact.
An
H X
HX
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich-Heine Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Niederacher
D
D
Dominik
S I
SI
Kuschel
B
B
Yan
H
H
Dall
P
P
Schnürch
H G
HG
Bender
H G
HG
Beckmann
M W
MW
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D005615:Freezing; D018734:Genes, erbB-2; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes
C496444:FGF3 protein, human; D051518:Fibroblast Growth Factor 3; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors