CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC INHIBITION OF ERB-B2 ONCOGENE EXPRESSION ON A NON-SMALL-CELL CANCER LINE (NSCLC-N6) BY MARINE SUBSTANCES

The inhibitory effect of natural substances of marine origin on the er b-B2 oncogene of a human NSCLC-N6 line was demonstrated in vitro by si multaneous study of the expression of the gene and its product, using respectively an erb-B2 specific probe and an anti-c-erb-B2 polyclonal antibody. Preliminary results indicate inhibition ranging from 17-77% of oncogene expression and from 77-90% of product expression. The fact that substances of this type, with different chemical structures, hav e the common ability to induce terminal differentiation in an experime ntal model after irreversible blockade in Gl phase suggests a relation ship between the inhibition of certain oncogenes and terminal differen tiation.