ANALYSIS OF PROTOONCOGENES IN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMAS OF THE HEAD AND NECK (SCCHN)

We have analysed DNA and RNA from 40 untreated head and neck cancers f or amplified and overexpressed proto-oncogenes by Southern and Norther n blot hybridisation. Coamplification but no expression of the bcl-1 a nd the hst genes was found in 12.5% of the patients. Furthermore, ampl ifications of c-myc were found in 10%, of Ha-ras and c-erbB-2 in 5%. c -erbB-2 amplification was accompanied by gene expression but no overex pression. Correlating our results with clinicopathological data of the patients amplifications were only found in stage III and IV disease ( p=0.0164). No correlation was found between amplification and primary tumour site, histopathological differentiation of the tumours, respons e to induction chemotherapy, or survival. Our results indicate that on cogene amplification in advanced SCCHN reflects more the general genom ic instability of advanced tumours than be a reason for tumour growth.