Amplification of the c-myc oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer

Fresh non-small cell lung carcinoma surgical specimens were taken from 17 p atients and 3 controls and screened for genetic abnormalities of the c-myc oncogene, Southern blot hybridization analysis demonstrated two- to fivefol d amplification of the c-myc gene in 10 cases, i.e., 7 of 13 epidermoid lun g carcinomas, 2 of 3 adenocarcinomas and 1 of 1 osteogenic sarcoma metastat ic to the lung. Two- to fivefold amplification was observed in tissues from stage III and IV epidermoid carcinomas and adenocarcinomas of the lung. A correlation between cancer stage and c-myc gene amplification was found.