Relationship of p53 alteration and myc family gene overexpression with the clinical characteristics of lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship of p53 alteration and myc family gene overexpression with the clinical characteristics of lung cancer.


METHODS
A series of 59 resected primary lung cancer specimens was analyzed for p53 gene by DNA/PCR sequencing and immunohistochemistry technique, and for myc family genes by RT-PCR methods.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven of 57 tumors were found to have p53 mutations or/and p53 protein accumulation. The presence of p53 alteration was not related to tumor size, lymph node metastasis, stage and relapse. Forty-seven cases were analyzed for myc family genes. The results showed that there was a positive correlation between unregulative expression of myc genes and the above mentioned clinical parameters. Our finding also showed that 19 of 30 cases (63%) with p53 alteration had myc gene overexpression which occurred in 63% and 76% cases with stage III and relapse, respectively, which was higher than 27% and 22% with p53 alteration but no myc gene overexpression and 50% and 71% with p53 negative but myc gene overexpression.


CONCLUSIONS
p53 alteration is a vital genetic event in the earlier stage of lung carcinogenesis, but not a prognostic marker. myc family genes overexpression may be regarded as one of the independent prognostic determinants in lung cancer. The cooperation between p53 alteration and myc gene overexpression may occur during progression of lung cancer, but prognostic determinant is myc gene overexpression.
Bai
L
L
Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Beijing, China.
Sun
Y
Y
Li
S
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D016259:Genes, myc; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53