A ROLE FOR THE FYN ONCOGENE IN METASTASIS OF METHYLCHOLANTHRENE-INDUCED FIBROSARCOMA-A CELLS

Expression of various oncogenes (ras, myc, erbB2, src, fyn, yes and si s) in a high-metastatic clone (MH-02) derived from a murine methylchol anthrene-induced fibrosarcoma A (Meth A) was compared with those of it s parent clone (ML-01) by Northern blot analysis. Two oncogenes, fyn, belonging to the tyrosine-kinase family, and sis, belonging to the cel lular-growth-factor family, were found to have higher signals (3.6-fol d and 1.8-fold respectively) in MH-02 than in ML-01 cells. To explore the possibility that higher expression of these oncogenes is involved in enhanced metastasis of the MH-02 clone, ML-01 was transfected by a fyn vector and the metastatic potential of the transfectant was examin ed. Mice administered fyn-transfected ML-01 cells had significantly in creased metastatic nodules in the lung, as compared with those whose M L-01 cells were transfected with control vector without the fyn gene. The result indicates that the fyn gene is one of the factors governing the metastatic potential of Meth A cells. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.