Expression of the c-Myc protein in childhood medulloblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of c-Myc protein expression in medulloblastoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (MB/PNET) and to identify mechanisms in addition to c-myc gene amplification that lead to increased protein expression.


METHODS
We analyzed c-myc gene copy number, mRNA level and protein expression in a panel of MB/PNET cell lines. C-Myc protein levels were assessed in tumor specimens and cell lines using immunohistochemical staining with a c-Myc-specific monoclonal antibody.


RESULTS
Southern analysis confirmed c-myc gene amplification in the D425 MED cell line and re-arrangement of one allele in D283 MED, which was analyzed further and appeared to represent a small deletion 3' of exon 3. C-myc transcript levels were dramatically elevated in both lines. Using a c-myc probe, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed c-myc present in 3 tandem copies at 8q24 in D283 MED and multiple copies as double minutes in D425 MED. Immunohistochemistry showed c-Myc protein expression in 9 of 10 tumors and all cell lines, regardless of gene amplification status or level of mRNA expression.


CONCLUSIONS
c-Myc protein expression is common in MB/PNET tumor specimens and cell lines. Elevated protein levels are observed in the absence of amplification, suggesting that multiple mechanisms of c-myc dysregulation may be involved in MB/PNET. These studies support a role for c-Myc in the development of this common childhood tumor.
Bruggers
C S
CS
Department of Pediatrics, Center for Children at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.
Tai
K F
KF
Murdock
T
T
Sivak
L
L
Le
K
K
Perkins
S L
SL
Coffin
C M
CM
Carroll
W L
WL
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger