AMPLIFICATION OF THE INT-2 GENE IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA

Cellular oncogenes have been implicated in head and neck cancer develo pment since 1986. More recently interest has focused on chromosome 11q 13; oncogenes therein undergoing ongoing investigation include Bcl-1/P rad-1, Hst-1 and Int-2. Our laboratory has studied the Int-2 oncogene for several years, primarily in the breast. This paper presents our in vestigations of Int-2 in the head and neck. Thirty-four paraffin-embed ded primary squamous cell carcinomas were studied for Int-2 gene ampli fication using a carefully controlled method of sequence quantificatio n by DNA dot blots. Amplification. mostly low level, was identified in 62 per cent of samples studied. No clinical correlation to amplificat ion could be found. Further studies are underway looking For evidence of expression of Int-2 in fresh tissues and for amplification and expr ession of other oncogenes on this amplicon.