DETECTION OF LA-1 ONCOGENE IN PARAFFIN-EMBEDDED CERVICAL-CANCER TISSUES BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology was used to identify th e LA-1 oncogene in cervical cancer cell lines and paraffin embedded ti ssues. In addition to the products of anticipated size, a 400 bp fragm ent homologous to the LA-1 oncogene was amplified from 44% of low grad e SIL and 60% of invasive cancer tissue. The 400 bp fragment was not a mplified from tissues diagnosed as chronic cervicitis, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection or erythema multiforme. It is suggested that PCR with LA-1 oncogene primers may be a rapid and sensitive diagnostic te st for the detection of the SIL patient at high risk of developing cer vical cancer.