VARIABLE FHIT TRANSCRIPTS IN NONNEOPLASTIC TISSUES

We used nested reverse transcriptase PCR to investigate the expression of the FHIT gene, a presumptive tumor suppressor gene located in chro mosomal band 3p14.2, in non-neoplastic samples. Multiple transcripts o f the FHIT gene were found in peripheral blood lymphocytes, skeletal m uscle, and liver of healthy individuals, as well as in a cell line der ived from synovial tissue. The data indicate that variable splicing of the FHIT transcript, leading to deletions of exons and thus anomalous or absent FHIT protein production, occurs frequently in non-neoplasti c tissues. Hence, the finding of multiple nonfunctional FHIT transcrip ts is not tumor-specific and cannot be used as a genetic marker of neo plasia. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.