Moderate amplifications of the c-myc gene correlate with molecular and clinicopathological parameters in colorectal cancer.
C-myc gene activation is a common event in multiple types of neoplasia and has been associated with different cellular processes relevant to the malignant transformation of cancer cells. C-myc gene amplification has been analysed in colorectal carcinomas by means of an innovative DNA fingerprinting method based on the arbitrarily primed PCR. This method requires a low amount of DNA, uses multiple internal controls and appears sensitive and reproducible. Clinicopathological and molecular correlates have been investigated in a series of 70 colorectal carcinomas. The incidence of c-myc amplification was 26%, ranging from two- to fivefold increase in copy number. C-myc amplification occurrence was more frequent in more advanced stages of tumour invasion (P < 0.001) and was associated with mutations in the p53 tumour-suppressor gene (P = 0.048). The presence of c-myc amplification was indicative of a shorter disease-free survival period but, because of its strong association with Dukes' stage, its prognostic value is questionable.
Masramon
L
L
Institut de Recerca Oncològica (Department of Cancer and Metastasis), Hospital Duran i Reynals, Barcelona, Spain.
Arribas
R
R
Tórtola
S
S
Perucho
M
M
Peinado
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016259:Genes, myc; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm