Negative implication of C-MYC as an amplification target in esophageal cancer.
Chromosomal aberrations (amplifications and deletions) underlie the genesis or development of cancer. Amplification of 8q24 is one of the most frequent events in esophageal cancer. To define whether C-MYC is the target gene for 8q24 amplification, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization using a MYC (8q24.12 approximately q24.13) probe in esophageal cancer from southern China. Furthermore, we detected the expression status of several genes including C-MYC, TRIB1 (alias C8FW), and FAM84B (alias NSE2) in the regions of 8q24 via reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction or immunohistochemical analysis (or both). Distinct amplification of 8q24 was found in esophageal carcinomas. Only 4 of 46 cases showed obvious protein expression in part of the esophageal cancerous nest. In particular, increased protein expression of C-MYC was shown only in a small part of a cancerous nest in the four cases. Positive C-MYC staining was detected mainly in the cytoplasm of esophageal cancer cells. No expression of TRIB1 was detected in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Of 59 cases, 39 (66%) cases showed increased expression of FAM84B in esophageal carcinomas. The results suggest that C-MYC and TRIB1 may not be the amplification target of 8q24 in esophageal cancer. FAM84B might be involved in the genesis or development of esophageal cancer in southern China. Whether FAM84B is the amplification target of esophageal cancer awaits further investigation.
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
Xiao-Ping
XP
Huang
Tie-Hua
TH
Rong
Jun-Ye
JY
Wang
Ya-Qiong
YQ
Tang
Bao-Jiang
BJ
Li
Duo-Rong
DR
Xu
Mei-Qing
MQ
Zhao
Lan-Jun
LJ
Zhang
Yan
Y
Fang
Xiao-Dong
XD
Su
Qi-Wan
QW
Liang
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D017931:DNA Primers; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
D017931:DNA Primers; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm