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Amplification of protooncogenes in human ovarian carcinomas

T Liehr1, N Atanasov, H Tulusan

  • 1UNIV ERLANGEN NURNBERG,INST HUMAN GENET,SCHWABACHANLAGE 10,W-8520 ERLANGEN,GERMANY. UNIV ERLANGEN NURNBERG,GYNECOL CLIN,W-8520 ERLANGEN,GERMANY.

International Journal of Oncology
|May 17, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Nearly half of ovarian carcinomas showed amplified oncogenes, with c-myc being the most frequent. This proto-oncogene amplification pattern distinguishes ovarian from breast tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Proto-oncogene amplification is implicated in various cancers.
  • Understanding oncogene alterations in ovarian cancer is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
  • Previous studies show varied results in ovarian carcinoma oncogene amplification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the amplification of specific proto-oncogenes in primary ovarian carcinomas.
  • To correlate oncogene amplification patterns with tumor characteristics.
  • To differentiate ovarian cancer oncogene profiles from other cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Southern-blot analysis of DNA from 27 primary ovarian carcinomas.
  • Karyotype analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomal control.
  • Quantification of oncogene amplification levels (2- to 10-fold).

Main Results:

  • Nearly 50% of tumors exhibited low to moderate amplification of one or more oncogenes.
  • c-myc was the most frequently amplified proto-oncogene (11 tumors).
  • c-erbB2 and c-Kras2 were amplified in 3 tumors each; c-fms in 2; c-int2 in 1.
  • No amplification of c-erbA1 or c-H-ras1 was detected.
  • Some tumors showed simultaneous amplification of multiple oncogenes.

Conclusions:

  • Proto-oncogene amplification is a common event in ovarian carcinomas.
  • The specific pattern of oncogene amplification in these ovarian cancers differs from breast tumors and some prior ovarian cancer findings.
  • FISH and karyotype analysis help validate Southern-blot results, reducing false amplification estimations.

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