ANALYSIS OF C-FOS, C-JUN, C-ERBB1, C-ERBB2 AND C-MYC IN PRIMARY LUNG CARCINOMAS AND THEIR LYMPH-NODE METASTASES

The purpose of this study was to identify possible alterations in prot o-oncogenes (c-fos, c-jun, c-erbB1, c-erbB2 and c-myc) at the protein level in primary lung carcinomas and simultaneous metastatic lymph nod es of 21 patients. The analysis showed that proteins of c-jun and c-my c were expressed in a significantly higher frequency in metastases tha n in primary lung tumors. Gross differences were not found between pri mary tumors and metastatic tumors with regard to the expression of c-e rbB1, c-erbB2 and c-fos. The finding of cases with a higher expression of c-jun and c-myc in lymph nodes suggests that metastatic capability may be higher in certain cell populations.