[Northern blot analysis of nm23 gene expression in human lung cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of nm23 gene expression in lung cancer.


METHODS
Forty human lung cancer tissues and 19 non-cancerous pulmonary tissues were studied for their nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 mRNA expression with nonradioactive Northern blot hybridization. Correlation of nm23 mRNA expression with clinical features of lung cancer was analyzed.


RESULTS
The mRNA expression of nm23-H2 gene in poorly differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma was significantly decreased compared to that in moderately differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma. The mRNA expression of nm23-H1 and nm23-H2 genes in small cell lung cancer was decreased compared to that in squamous-cell carcinoma. No significant difference in nm23 mRNA expression was observed in lung cancers with and without lymph node metastasis, nor was there significant difference in patients with lung cancers in different stages.


CONCLUSIONS
The mRNA expression of nm23 gene is correlated with the degree of differentiation of lung cancer, but there is no evidence of metastasis suppression effect by nm23 gene.
Department of Thoracocardiac Surgery, First University Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu.
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D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D054778:NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; C517938:NME1 protein, human; D009701:Nucleoside-Diphosphate Kinase; D020559:Monomeric GTP-Binding Proteins