AMPLIFICATION IN TUMORS AND BENIGN TISSUE OF BREAST-CANCER PATIENTS

Inappropriate expression of the c-erb B2 gene has been associated with aggressive tumor behavior in breast cancer. In this study the c-erb B 2 amplification was investigated both in the tumors and benign breast tissue of the patients by competitive PCR. The technique combines the sensitivity and speed of PCR with coamplification of a single copy ref erence gene to achieve quantitative results. Gene copy numbers in exce ss of 3 copies were observed in tumors of 7 patients but not in the no rmal tissue samples. We conclude that the increase in the gene copy nu mbers is a result of the tumorigenic changes occurring in the cancer c ell.