AIM: To evaluate the relationship between coexpression of EGFR and ERK2 on the level of protein and mRNA and activation of ERK2 in lung squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). METHODS: Twenty cases of lung squamous cell carcinomas and their paired normal lung tissues were studied. The expression of mRNA and protein of EGFR and ERK2 was measured by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The activity of ERK2 was detected by immunoprecipitation and kinase reaction. RESULTS: The results showed that the expression of EGFR mRNA and protein in paired normal lung tissues was hardly detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively, but in 20 cases of lung SCCs their expression was upregulated significantly. Compared with normal lung tissues, the expression of ERK2 mRNA and protein in lung cancer tissues was also upregulated significantly, the latter increased about 3-5-fold, and the activity of ERK2 in lung SCCs was also markedly activated. CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight that the overexpression of ERK2 and EGFR protein occurs simultaneously in lung SCCs, which mainly results from the increasing level of gene transcription, the increased activity of ERK2 in lung cancer tissues perhaps attributes to the upregulation of coexpression of EGFR and ERK2. [

AIM: To investigate the frequency and pattern of deletion of p53 gene in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its clinical significance. METHODS: The interphase dual fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) technique was applied to detect loss of p53 gene in HCCs. RESULTS: The deletion of p53 gene was found in 68.0% of HCCs whereas no loss of p53 gene was detected in 40 mated normal liver specimens. Loss of p53 gene was closely related to tumor size and serum ?-fetoprotein(AFP) level in HCC patients ( P 0.05). The 2-year survival rate of postoperative HCC patients was significantly lower in the HCC cases with p53 gene deletion (25.6%) than those without p53 gene loss (69.6%) ( ? 2=11.463, P

Objective　 To construct a detailed mapping of the Chromosome 1pter-p 36.11 deleted region (63.4 cM) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by polymerase c hain reaction-loss of hetrozygosity (PCR-LOH) analysis for the further researc h of NPC-related gene(s). Methods　 Biopsies from 47 cases of NPC patients were studied. DNA extracted from separated cancer cells and their corresponding non- c ancer lymphocytes were amplified with PCR,followed by the analysis of LOH and mi crosatellite instability (MI) for 20 loci spanning Chromosome 1pter-p36.11 regi on with an average interval of 3.0 cM. Results　 82.2% of NPC cases (37/47) showe d at least one loci of LOH. The highest frequency of LOH was found at loci D1S23 4 on 1p36.13 (50.0%), with the LOH at loci D1S2644 on 1p36.22 slightly less (37. 5%). The occurrence of LOH at D1S234 showed no significant difference for the ca ses at early stage and at advanced stage ［60% (9/15) vs 50.0% (8/16) respective ly, P>0.05］. High frequencies of MI were detected at D1S243 on 1p36.33 (37 .5%) and D1S199 on 1p36.21 (30.2%). Conclusions　 There are two common deletion regio ns: one localized at 1p36.13 (D1S234, 2.0 cM) and the other at 1p36.22 (D1S436- D 1S2644, 6.3 cM), with a MI loci at D1S199 between them. This suggests that one or more putative tumor suppressor gene(s) related to the early stage of NPC tumo rigenesis may be encompassed in this zone.

OBJECTIVETo investigate gene expression profile in nasopharyngeaL carcinoma (NPC) cell lines with different metastatic potentialities, in order to identify new candidate genes related to the development, progress and metastasis of NPC.

METHODSThe mRNA expressions of high metastatic NPC cell line 5-8F, tumorigenic but nonmetastatic NPC cell line 6-10B and non-tumorigenic NPC cell line 13-9B (3 sublines of SUNE-1) were investigated by cDNA microarray containing 14 000 cDNA clones. The alterations in gene expression levels were confirmed by reverse-transcription PCR.

RESULTSThere were 82 differentially expressed genes comparing 5-8F and 13-9B; 38 differentially expressed genes comparing 6-10B and 13-9B; 54 comparing 5-8F and 6-10B. There were 12 common differentially expressed genes comparing 6-10B, 5-8F and 13-9B; 14 common differentially expressed genes comparing 5-8F and 13-9B, 6-10B. The expressions of the above genes were involved in metabolism, transcription, differentiation, apoptosis and signal transduction.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression profile in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines is an important index in the search of new candidate genes related to NPC.

Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Tumor Cells, Cultured