Prognostic relevance of C-myc gene expression in giant-cell tumor of bone.
Giant-cell tumor is a primary bone tumor, of uncertain origin, with the potential capacity to metastasize. To study the role of c-myc and c-fos oncogene overexpression in the tumorigenesis and metastatic spread of giant-cell tumors, 32 primary tumors were collected; of these, 19 remained disease-free and 13 metastasized to the lung. Samples of lung metastasis from these 13 patients were also available for study. The expression of c-myc and c-fos mRNA was studied by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and by in situ hybridization. The expression of protein was studied by Western blot analysis and by immunohistochemistry. C-myc mRNA was overexpressed in 12 (38%) of the 32 primary tumors. Thirteen primary tumors metastasized to the lung; in nine (69%) of these, c-myc mRNA was overexpressed. The c-myc protein was overexpressed in seven (54%) of the 13 tumors that metastasized to the lung. C-fos was overexpressed in only one lung metastasis. A strong correlation between the overexpression of c-myc, and the occurrence of metastases was found: thus, c-myc seems a powerful prognosticator in giant-cell tumor. C-myc was overexpressed both in giant cells and in mononuclear cells, suggesting that both cell types are involved in the progression of this tumor.
Gamberi
G
G
Laboratory of Oncologic Research, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy.
Benassi
M S
MS
Böhling
T
T
Ragazzini
P
P
Molendini
L
L
Sollazzo
M R
MR
Merli
M
M
Ferrari
C
C
Magagnoli
G
G
Bertoni
F
F
Picci
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016762:Genes, fos; D016259:Genes, myc; D005870:Giant Cell Tumors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D012333:RNA, Messenger