title: C-myc oncogene amplification in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.
abstract: The c-myc oncogene is frequently activated in invasive breast cancer and has been associated with high nuclear grade, lymph node metastasis and poorer disease outcome. We have examined c-myc oncogene amplification using fluorescence in situ hybridization in a series of 96 pure DCIS. Additionally we assessed amplification and expression of the Her2 and bcl-2 oncogenes. The findings were compared with clinicopathological data, Ki-67 proliferative index and hormone receptor status. We observed c-myc oncogene amplification in 19 tumours (20%). These cases were significantly associated with an average of 38% higher proliferative activity (p = 0.045), a 43% larger tumour size (p = 0.029) and the otherwise rare micropapillary subtype (p = 0.0005). Concluding the c-myc oncogene appears to be involved in the development of a more aggressive phenotype of DCIS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aulmann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bentz
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Sinn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002455:Cell Division; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010641:Phenotype