OVEREXPRESSION OF C-MYC GENE WITHOUT GENE AMPLIFICATION IN HUMAN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Objective. To clarify the relationship between c-myc gene amplificatio n and expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue. Metho ds. Levels of amplification, transcription and P62 myc expression of c -myc gene in tumor tissues and corresponding non-tumor tissues were sy stematically studied using Dot blot hybridization, in situ hybridizati on and immunohistochemical technique, respectively. The 14 pairs of sp ecimens were resected from patients with HCC. Results. The amplificati on of c-myc gene was not found in tumor and non-tumor tissues. Overexp ression of c-myc mRNA transcription was detected in 11 tumor tissues a nd 10 non-tumor tissues. The positive rate of P62 myc was 85.7% (12/14 ) in tumor tissues and 92.9% (13/14) in non-tumor tissues, respectivel y. A close correlation was noticed between c-myc mRNA and P62 myc expr ession. The results suggested that c-myc gene overexpression was not r elated to its amplification. Conclusion. The overexpression of c-myc m RNA and gene product without amplification may be characteristic in HC C.