USE OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TECHNIQUE TO DETERMINE C-MYC EXPRESSION IN FOLLICULAR CENTER CELL LYMPHOMA

We determined, in a semiquantitative fashion, the level of expression of c-myc in 18 follicular center cell lymphomas and five non-neoplasti c lymph nodes using reverse transcription and the polymerase chain rea ction technique (RT-PCR), With this method, RNA is extracted from lymp h node specimens and reverse-transcribed to produce cDNA, which is the n amplified using primers specific for c-myc sequences that span intro ns, thus precluding amplification of genomic DNA. Amplified products a re compared with beta(2)-microglobulin sequences coamplified in each c ase as a control for the quality of RNA extracted, RT, and PCR amplifi cation. Using cell lines derived from Burkitt's lymphomas, the RT-PCR method yielded results equivalent to standard Northern blot analysis y et required smaller quantities of tissue. The c-myc transcripts were d etected in all lymphoma cases studied (seven high, 11 low expression) and in all non-neoplastic lymph nodes. High or low c-myc expression wa s based on comparison with non-neoplastic lymph nodes, We conclude tha t the RT-PCR method is a sensitive, reliable method for measuring gene expression in lymphoma tissues and may be useful for studying the rol e of c-myc in follicular lymphomas.