Effect of cyclophosphamide therapy on oncogene expression in angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy

The expression of four cellular oncogenes was studied by means of northern blot analysis of messenger RNA in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from patients with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy (AILD). On average, cells from patients with AILD and from those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) expressed significantly more N-ras and significantly less c-fos mRNA than did cells from healthy controls. Expression of these cellular oncogenes was most abnormal in patients with the most severe disease. In contrast, increased levels of c-myc mRNA were found in patients with SLE but not in those with AILD. Administration of cyclophosphamide to patients with AILD was followed by return to normal of both N-ras and c-fos expression.