[Amplification and expression of oncogenes in human malignant tumors--organ or tissue specificity and prognosis]

We investigated the amplification and expression of oncogenes in human cancerous and noncancerous tissues, and clarified the correlation between the biological characteristics and them. Amplification of c-erb B oncogene is detected in 12% of squamous cancer tissues such as cancer of the lung and esophagus, but not others. That of c-erb A and c-erb B-2 oncogenes is, specifically, detected in 20-25% of breast cancers. On the other hand, amplification of c-myc is detected in 10-20% of various cancers. EGF receptors is highly and specifically, overexpressed in squamous cancers, and the prognosis of the patients with amplification and overexpression of c-erb B oncogenes is poor.