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Summary
Protooncogene transcription was assessed in human leukemias. Some oncogenes showed increased expression in leukemic cells compared to normal cells, suggesting a role in cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
- Genetics
Background:
- Retroviral oncogenes are linked to animal cancers, but human cancer associations are less clear.
- Protooncogene transcription levels in human leukemias require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare protooncogene transcription in human leukemic cells versus normal cells.
- To identify specific oncogenes with altered expression in leukemia.
Main Methods:
- Low-stringency hybridization of viral oncogene DNA to cellular messenger RNA.
- Analysis of oncogene transcript levels in fresh leukemic cells from 28 patients and normal cells.
Main Results:
- Several oncogenes (abl, erb, myc, ras) were expressed in both normal and leukemic cells.
- Oncogenes fes, fps, and src showed increased hybridization to leukemic cell RNA compared to normal cells.
- No specific oncogene expression patterns were observed across different cell types.
Conclusions:
- Human hematopoietic cell transformation may involve multiple oncogenes.
- Leukemia development might involve oncogenes unrelated to retroviruses.