Amplification of the Int-2 gene in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Cellular oncogenes have been implicated in head and neck cancer development since 1986. More recently interest has focused on chromosome 11q13; oncogenes therein undergoing ongoing investigation include Bcl-1/Prad-1, Hst-1 and Int-2. Our laboratory has studied the Int-2 oncogene for several years, primarily in the breast. This paper presents our investigations of Int-2 in the head and neck. Thirty-four paraffin-embedded primary squamous cell carcinomas were studied for Int-2 gene amplification using a carefully controlled method of sequence quantification by DNA dot blots. Amplification, mostly low level, was identified in 62 per cent of samples studied. No clinical correlation to amplification could be found. Further studies are underway looking for evidence of expression of Int-2 in fresh tissues and for amplification and expression of other oncogenes on this amplicon.