Genome analysis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and clinical significance

A chromosome analysis of three cell lines derived from SCLC showed deletions of the short arm of chromosome 3 with bands p21-p23 as the shortest region of overlap. Hybridization of a polymorphic 3p21 probe to DNA from leukocytes of seven SCLC patients revealed heterozygosity for two of them. In the tumours of both these patients the probe detected homozygosity. This suggests the presence of a mutant cancer gene in the short arm of chromosome 3 which might express itself and/or activate some oncogene(s) after deletion of a suppressing normal allele. Amplification of the oncogene C-MYC was found in four cell lines including the ones cytogenetically analyzed. Amplification of C-MYC, though to a lesser degree, was also found in an available pleural effusate from which one of these lines had been established. As shown by in situ hybridization, the amplified oncogene was present in double minutes in three of the cell lines. In the remaining line it was in a homogeneously staining chromosome region. All patients from whom cell lines with C-MYC amplification were obtained had a negative response to chemotherapy. The observed correlation between amplification of C-MYC, occurrence of so-called variant type SCLC-derived cell lines, and negative response to chemotherapy indicates that a genome analysis of SCLC might provide further criteria for the characterization and subdivision of this highly malignant cancer and thereby a base for an optimal selection of therapy for distinct cases of SCLC.