[Transcriptional inactivation of RASSF1A in lung cancer and its clinical significance].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between the transcriptional expression of RASSF1A (Ras association domain family 1A gene) and oncogenesis and development of lung cancer.


METHODS
RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of RASSF1A mRNA in 47 human lung cancer tissues and matched 47 non-cancer tissues.


RESULTS
(1). The RASSF1A mRNA was identified in all non-cancer tissues but not found in 53.2% carcinoma tissues. (2). The rate of loss of RASSF1A mRNA was significantly higher in the patients with positive lymph node metastasis (70.4%) than in those without lymph node metastasis (30.0%) (P < 0.01). (3). Much more frequent in advanced tumor tissues, loss of RASSF1A mRNA was correlated with TNM stage (P < 0.05). (4). No significant association of abnormal RASSF1A expression was identified with histological type, differentiation grade of tumors or age, sex, and smoking index of the patients (all P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
RASSF1A is one of the new candidates of tumor suppressor genes. Loss or abnormal down-regulation of RASSF1A mRNA is a frequent event in lung carcinogenesis, which may play an important role in the malignant progression and prognosis of lung cancer.
Shao
Kang
K
Laboratory of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Beijing 100021, China.
Xiao
Zhi-xiong
ZX
Tang
Huai-jing
HJ
Cheng
Bang-chang
BC
Zhang
De-chao
DC
Zhou
Fang
F
Xiong
Mei-hua
MH
Mu
Ba-dong
BD
Huang
Wei
W
Zhang
Cui-yan
CY
He
Jie
J
D019175:DNA Methylation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins