Amplification and over-expression of OZF, a gene encoding a zinc finger protein, in human pancreatic carcinomas

The OZF gene encodes a protein consisting of 10 zinc finger motifs and is l ocated on chromosome 19q13.1. We report here the amplification and over-exp ression of the OZF gene in pancreatic carcinomas. Increased gene copy numbe r was detected in 3 of 12 tumour cell lines and 2 of 12 primary pancreatic carcinomas. Expression was detected in all cell lines, and the gene was ove r-expressed in cell lines with OZF gene amplification. Five of 8 tumours, i ncluding 2 primary tumours with OZF gene amplification, displayed high leve ls of OZF protein, whereas normal pancreas expressed low levels. Immuno-his tochemical analysis showed that expression was restricted to tumour cells. Thus, high-level expression of OZF is frequent in pancreatic carcinomas and may contribute to the development or progression of this tumour. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.