Concordant deletions of chromosome 3p and loss of heterozygosity for chromosomes 13 and 17 in small cell lung carcinoma

Common regions of loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 3, 13, and 17 were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 34 tumors and nine cell lines from 27 patients with small cell lung carcinoma. The common regions of loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 3, 13, and 17 reside between D3S2 (3p14-p21) and ERBA beta (3p22-p24.1), between D13S1 (13q12) and D13S2 (13q22), and distal to MYH2 (17p13.1), respectively. Allele loss in each of these regions has been previously shown in several human tumors. Thus, the present findings indicate the pleiotropy of recessive genetic lesions in these genomic areas. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on three small cell lung carcinoma cell lines which had allele loss on all three chromosomes, and although chromosome 3p deletions were observed in two of three cell lines, no obvious structural abnormalities involving chromosomes 13 and 17 were detected. Mitotic recombination or mitotic nondisjunction rather than deletion may thus be the frequent chromosomal mechanism for attaining homozygosity of chromosomes 13 and 17 in small cell lung carcinoma.

Loss of heterozygosity on the short arm of chromosome 3 in carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Loss of genes at specific chromosomal loci is a common genetic alteration in human tumors and is thought to be critical for unmasking the recessive genetic changes for tumorigenesis. To learn whether such recessive mutations are involved in the development of carcinoma of the uterine cervix, 18 fresh tumors were analyzed by Southern blot hybridization using 34 polymorphic DNA markers covering 19 different chromosomes. We found loss of heterozygosity at the D3S2 locus on chromosome 3p in all nine patients who could be evaluated. Human papillomavirus type 16 and type 18 were present in seven and three of 18 tumors, respectively, while no amplification of 13 oncogenes, including c-myc and H-ras, was detected in these tumors. These results suggest that recessive genetic changes on chromosome 3p are one of the important genetic alterations for the development of carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Since this locus is also lost commonly in lung cancer and in renal cell carcinoma, it is possible that these three different types of adult tumors result from mutations of the same recessive gene on chromosome 3p.

Correlation between long-term survival in breast cancer patients and amplification of two putative oncogene-coamplification units: hst-1/int-2 and c-erbB-2/ear-1

The incidence and association with 10-year survival of amplification in five protooncogenes or transforming genes were retrospectively examined using DNAs extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of tissues obtained from 176 consecutive patients surgically treated for primary breast carcinoma. The incidences of greater than threefold amplification of hst-1, int-2, c-erbB-2, ear-1 (one of c-erbA), and c-myc were 12, 13, 16, 10, and 4.0%, respectively. hst-1 and int-2 were almost always coamplified (21/22), while c-erbB-2 and ear-1 were frequently coamplified (18/28) with almost the same copy number. The hst-1 and int-2 pair and the c-erbB-2 and ear-1 pair, localized on chromosomes 11q13 and 17q21-22, respectively, in normal cells, were inferred to be constituents of different amplification units. Amplification of hst-1 and/or int-2 was detected preferentially in the younger age group, and was correlated with poorer prognosis in cases carrying four or more copies of the genes. Amplification of c-erbB-2 and/or ear-1 was strongly correlated with poor prognosis in all 176 patients, especially those with lymph node metastasis. Amplification of c-myc was also correlated with poor prognosis. Cox's life-table regression analysis showed that amplification of c-erbB-2 had a prognostic value, which was independent of other known prognostic factors such as lymph node status and tumor size.

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 1p and 11p in sporadic pheochromocytoma

We used 29 polymorphic DNA markers to analyze tumor DNA samples from six patients with sporadic pheochromocytoma for possible loss of chromosomal heterozygosity; four had benign disease and two had malignant disease. Loss of heterozygosity was observed on four chromosomes: 1p (three of four patients), 2p (one of one), 5q (two of six), and 11p (three of five). Chromosomes 1p and 11p frequently had allelic deletions in these tumors, and these deletions may play an important role in the development of pheochromocytoma.

Frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 14q in neuroblastoma

Using 29 polymorphic DNA markers which detect allelic deletion of genes at specific loci on 19 different chromosomes, we analyzed 14 neuroblastomas for possible loss of chromosomal heterozygosity. The incidence of loss of heterozygosity was high at the D14S1 locus on chromosome 14q, being detected in six of 12 patients (50%). In spite of the cytogenetic finding suggesting high frequency of chromosome 1p deletion, loss of heterozygosity at the MYCL locus on 1p32 was detected only in two of nine patients (22%). It was also found in two of 11 patients (18%) on 13q, but not on chromosomes 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20. The present results indicate that recessive genetic changes involving sequences on chromosome 14q may play an important role in the development of neuroblastoma.

Altered expression of the retinoblastoma (RB) gene in small-cell carcinoma of the lung

Nine lung small-cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines and 9 lung non-SCC cell lines were examined for structural changes of the retinoblastoma (RB) gene as well as its expression using a complementary DNA probe. The RB protein product was investigated using an anti-RB antibody which we produced. Although homozygosity or hemizygosity of the RB gene was suggested in 8 of 9 SCCs and one of 2 large cell carcinomas (LCCs) by Southern blot analysis using an RB cDNA probe and polymorphic DNA markers for chromosome 13, no obvious structural changes of the RB gene were detected in these 18 cell lines. However, RB transcripts were either markedly reduced in quantity or abnormal in length in 3 of 9 SCCs. The specific 115 kD protein was not immunoprecipitated by the anti-RB antibody in all 9 SCCs with either normal or abnormal size RB mRNA. Three of 4 adenocarcinomas (AdCs), all 3 squamous cell carcinomas, and one of 2 LCCs expressed normal size RB mRNA, and the 115 kD protein was immunoprecipitated by the anti-RB antibody. The 115 kD protein was also absent in one of 2 LCCs with shortened RB mRNA and in one of 4 AdCs with low level of RB mRNA expression. These results strongly suggest that inactivation of the RB gene might be involved in the development of lung cancers, especially of SCCs.

Retrospective study on amplification of N-myc and c-myc genes in pediatric solid tumors and its association with prognosis and tumor differentiation

DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues of 85 patients with pediatric malignant solid tumors which had been resected at surgery or obtained at autopsy during a 24-year period. The tumors examined included 25 rhabdomyosarcomas, 12 Wilms' tumors, 10 hepatoblastomas and 37 neuroblastoma group tumors. Neuroblastoma group tumors were subclassified into 25 neuroblastomas and 12 ganglioneuroblastomas among which 6 composite ganglioneuroblastomas were included. Sample blocks were selected from both tumors and normal tissues in the majority of cases. We were able to reliably detect N- and c-myc gene amplification in tumor DNA by dot blot-hybridization. The N-myc gene showed approximately from 3- to 500-fold amplification in 19 of 33 cases of stage IV neuroblastoma group tumor. All of these 33 patients had been intensively treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The c-myc was amplified 8-fold in 1 case of rhabdomyosarcoma, but neither N-myc nor c-myc was amplified in any cases of Wilms' tumor or hepatoblastoma. We retrospectively examined the association among N-myc gene amplification, prognosis, and histologic subtype in 33 patients with stage IV neuroblastoma group tumors. The survival of the patients with N-myc gene amplification was shorter than that of the patients without amplification of N-myc (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in prognosis between the 2 histologic subtypes; neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma, and the cases of tumors with amplified N-myc showed shorter survivals for each subtype (p less than 0.05). In every case of neuroblastoma group tumor, the copy number of the N-myc gene was the same among primary site and multiple metastatic tumors, even when the lesions showed differences in histologic subtype like neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroblastoma.

Human HST1 (HSTF1) gene maps to chromosome band 11q13 and coamplifies with the INT2 gene in human cancer

The human HST1 gene, previously designated the hst gene, and now assigned the name HSTF1 for heparin-binding secretory transforming factor in human gene nomenclature, was originally identified as a transforming gene in DNAs from human stomach cancers by transfection assay with mouse NIH 3T3 cells. The amino acid sequence of the product deduced from DNA sequences of the HST1 cDNA and genomic clones had approximately 40% homology to human basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors and mouse Int-2-encoded protein. We have mapped the human HST1 gene to chromosome 11 at band q13.3 by Southern blot hybridization analysis of a panel of human and mouse somatic cell hybrids and in situ hybridization with an HST1 cDNA probe. The HST1 gene was found to be amplified in DNAs obtained from a stomach cancer and a vulvar carcinoma cell line, A431. In all of these samples of DNA, the INT2 gene, previously mapped to human chromosome 11q13, was also amplified to the same degree as the HST1 gene.

Heterogeneity of lung cancer cells with respect to the amplification and rearrangement of myc family oncogenes

Seventy lung tumors from 53 patients were analysed for alterations of myc family oncogenes, c-myc, N-myc and L-myc, to evaluate when activation of these genes occurs during tumor development. The 53 cases were 17 small cell carcinomas (SCCs), 18 adenocarcinomas, 12 squamous cell carcinomas (SqCs), 4 large cell carcinomas and 2 adenosquamous carcinomas. Either N-myc or L-myc was amplified in 4 of the 17 (one N-myc and 3 L-myc) SCCs (24%), while c-myc was amplified in 3 of the 12 SqCs (25%). In one SCC, amplification of N-myc was found in the primary tumor, a pulmonary hilar lymph node metastasis and a pleural metastasis, but not in a liver metastasis or a para-aortic lymph node metastasis. In one SqC, c-myc was amplified in a pleural metastasis and a lymph node metastasis, but not in the primary tumor. In 2 cases of SCCs, amplification or rearrangement of c-myc was detected only in the cell lines, but not in the original tumors taken from the same individuals. These results indicate that tumor cells were heterogeneous for amplification and rearrangement of myc family oncogenes, and suggest that activation of these oncogenes in SCCs and SqCs occurs not at the time of malignant transformation but during tumor progression.

Infrequent loss of chromosomal heterozygosity in human stomach cancer

By molecular genetic approach using polymorphic DNA markers which detect allelic deletion at specific chromosomal loci, we analyzed 30 human stomach cancers for possible loss of chromosomal heterozygosity. We analyzed 25 loci on 18 different chromosomes covering regions frequently deleted in several types of cancers. Loss of chromosomal heterozygosity was observed only in five of 30 cases examined, and it was infrequently detected at 10 loci on seven different chromosomes including chromosome 1 in two of 12 cases, chromosome 12 in one of four cases and chromosome 13 in three of 27 cases. It was also observed at loci on chromosomes 11, 14, 16, and 19 with very low frequency (less than 10%), but not on other chromosomes: chromosomes 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18, 20, and 22. Thus, in human stomach cancer, loss of heterozygosity occurs infrequently even at chromosomal loci often deleted in other types of cancers.

[Traumatic subclavian steal syndrome. Report of a case]

Traumatic obstruction of the subclavian artery without major hemorrhage is rare. Only eleven cases have been disclosed retrograde flows from the ipsilateral vertebral artery into the distal segment of subclavian artery in the world. One case of the traumatic subclavian occlusion is presented in this paper. A 63-year-old man was struck on his chest by heavy machinery. On admission he was alert and had no neurological deficits. His blood pressure was 140/80 mmHg in his right arm but was not palpable in his left radial artery. Aortogram showed incomplete obstruction of the left subclavian artery 2 cm beyond its origin. On the second admission day it was occluded and the distal flow was supplied from the left vertebral artery in a retrograde fashion. Without operative vascular reconstruction he has never experienced ischemic symptoms for a year.

[Efficacy of transcatheter embolization for massive bleeding from pelvic fracture]

To investigate the effectiveness of percutaneous transcatheter embolization (PET) for massive bleeding from pelvic fracture, 89 patients treated in a recent 5-year period when PET was adopted (group II) were analyzed and compared with former 177 patients (group I). The results obtained were as follows: 1) Although there was no difference between the groups on overall mortality within 24 hours, the rate of hemorrhagic death directly caused by pelvic fractures and the incidence of complications in group II were significantly less than in group I. 2) PET directly improved vital sign and decreased transfusion. 3) Bleeding sites near greater ischiatic notches on angiogram were frequently seen without detectable fractures of posterior pelvic ring on plain X-ray films. 4) Any side effects were not associated with PET. These results confirm that PET can identify bleeding sites, control hemorrhage and improve mortality and morbidity of severe pelvic fracture.

Morphology of single neurones in the cerebello-rubrospinal system

Axonal branching patterns of physiologically identified cerebellar nucleus neurones and rubrospinal neurones were investigated in the cat with intra-axonal injection of horseradish peroxidase and 3-dimensional reconstruction on serial sections. Axons of dentate and interpositus neurones projected to the VL nucleus of the thalamus and on their way, several axon collaterals were given off from the stem axons to the red nucleus. Axon terminals of interpositus neurones terminated as a sagittal sheet of arborizations in the red nucleus. Their terminal boutons made apparent contact with cell bodies and proximal dendrites of rubrospinal neurones. In rubrospinal axons, multiple axon collaterals were identified at different segments of the cervical spinal cord.

Genetic alterations of the c-erbB-2 oncogene occur frequently in tubular adenocarcinoma of the stomach and are often accompanied by amplification of the v-erbA homologue

We analyzed for alterations of the c-erbB-2 oncogene in 35 human stomach cancers and 8 cell lines derived from human stomach cancer. Amplification of c-erbB-2 was found in approximately 40% (5/13) of the tubular adenocarcinomas of the stomach examined, including 4 of 10 fresh tumors and one of 3 cell lines, but not in other histological types of stomach cancer examined (0/30), including 25 fresh tumors and 5 cell lines. This result strongly suggests that amplification of c-erbB-2 occurs frequently in tubular carcinomas in stomach cancer. Rearrangement of c-erbB-2 was also detected in one tubular adenocarcinoma. The rearranged fragment carried the 3' half, but not the 5' sequence, of the c-erbB-2 gene. Furthermore, one of the cellular homologues of v-erbA was amplified in 3 of 4 fresh tumors carrying the amplified c-erbB-2 gene. Both c-erbB-2 and the v-erbA homologue were expressed in all the stomach cancer cell lines tested.

Levels of glutathione S transferase pi mRNA in human lung cancer cell lines correlate with the resistance to cisplatin and carboplatin

The amounts of mRNA for glutathione S transferase pi (GST pi) were significantly lower in 3 human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines than in 3 non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. The sensitivities of the 3 SCLC cell lines to cisplatin and carboplatin were much higher than those of the 3 NSCLC cell lines. These results indicate that low levels of GST pi mRNA expression in SCLC cell lines inversely correlate to high sensitivity to cisplatin and carboplatin, and further suggest that GST pi may play an important role in intracellular inactivation of these drugs.

Events on different chromosomes alter the genes for the two peptides of platelet-derived growth factor in an osteogenic sarcoma

Platelet derived growth factor consists of dimers of partially homologous peptides (A and B) encoded by separate genes on different chromosomes. A clinically aggressive osteogenic sarcoma had both an amplified A-chain gene on chromosome #7 and a reduplication of all or part of chromosome #22 containing the B-chain (c-sis) gene. Other oncogenes on chromosomes #1, #2, #5, #6, #7, #8, #11, #12, #14, and #15 were not reduplicated or amplified. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis of autocrine stimulation of growth of some sarcomas in humans, and indicate that amplification and reduplication of related genes on different chromosomes can occur in tumors in vivo.

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 3, 13, and 17 in small-cell carcinoma and on chromosome 3 in adenocarcinoma of the lung

By a molecular genetic approach using polymorphic DNA markers that detect allelic deletion of specific chromosomal regions, we analyzed for possible loss of chromosomal heterozygosity in five different histological types of lung cancers obtained from 47 patients. In small-cell carcinomas, the incidence of allelic deletions at three different chromosomal loci was extremely high; loss of heterozygosity was detected on chromosomes 3p in 7 of 7 patients (100%), 13q in 10 of 11 patients (91%), and 17p in 5 of 5 patients (100%). The deletions at these loci in small-cell carcinomas were observed even in the tumors without any clinical evidence of metastasis. Furthermore, loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes 3p and 13q occurred prior to NMYC amplification and chromosome 11p deletion. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 3p was also detected with high frequency in adenocarcinomas [5 of 6 patients (83%)]. Heterozygosity of chromosomes 13q and 17p was lost in 10 of 31 patients (32%) and in 3 of 12 patients (25%), respectively, of lung cancers other than small-cell carcinomas. These results indicate that recessive genetic changes involving sequences on chromosomes 3p, 13q, and 17p may play important roles in the genesis of small-cell carcinoma, and those on chromosome 3p may play an important role in the genesis of adenocarcinoma.

Association of multiple copies of the c-erbB-2 oncogene with spread of breast cancer

Amplification of c-erbB-2 was at least three times more frequent in breast cancer than in most other types of carcinoma, and was not found in sarcomas or hematological malignancies. Amplification of c-erbB-2 was found in 15 of 86 primary breast cancers and in 3 of 12 secondary breast cancers. Amplification was more common in breast tumors of advanced stage, and in tumors which had metastasized to regional lymph nodes sites. Gene amplification was observed in 21% (4 of 19) of primary tumors which recurred within 3 years of mastectomy and in 6% (2 of 32) of nonrecurrent tumors.

Y chromosome abnormality in human stomach and lung cancer

Sex chromosome abnormalities in human stomach and lung cancers from 33 male patients were examined by Southern blot hybridization with pDP34 DNA probe, which recognizes X and Y chromosome-linked restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Contrary to the recent cytogenetic observations showing high incidence of loss of the Y chromosome in solid tumors, loss of the Y chromosome was observed in only 3 of 21 stomach cancers and 2 of 12 lung cancers. Gain of the Y chromosome was found in one of 12 lung cancers, but not in any of the stomach cancers. No X chromosome abnormality was found in any of these 33 stomach cancers and lung cancers.

Proto-oncogene abnormalities in human breast cancer: correlations with anatomic features and clinical course of disease

DNAs from fifty-three primary breast cancers were hybridized with 16 different proto-oncogene or oncogene probes. Abnormalities of one or more of five proto-oncogenes were found in fifty-eight percent of tumors at the time of mastectomy. Amplification of c-myc and c-erbB-2, and allelic deletions of c-ras-Ha and c-myb were the most common abnormalities. The presence of altered proto-oncogenes correlated with clinical stage of the cancers. Fifteen of 43 evaluable tumors of stages I to III recurred, and four of five evaluable stage IV tumors progressed within 16 to 24 months of surgery. All but one of the cancers that recurred or progressed had detectably altered proto-oncogenes (P less than .001). Analysis of proto-oncogenes may have prognostic value in breast cancer.

Activation of N-ras gene in a rat hepatocellular carcinoma induced by dibutylnitrosamine and butylated hydroxytoluene

DNA samples from eighteen rat hepatocellular carcinomas, including those induced by oral administration of dibutylnitrosamine (DBN) with butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), or DBN with butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), have been tested for the presence of transforming activity by transfection assay with NIH3T3 cells. Of the eighteen samples, only one from a tumor induced by DBN and BHT gave transformants. the activated oncogene was identified as rat N-ras by Southern blot analysis.

Computed tomographic imaging of the brain in after hypoglycemia coma

A case of severe hypoglycemic coma was studied by sequential Computed Tomographic Imaging (CT) of the brain. The CT 1) was normal in the early stage, 2) subsequently showed a low density area, which was enhanced by the contrast medium, in the cerebral cortex and the boundary zone between the major cerebral arteries, and 3) revealed marked enhancement in the entire cortical region and hypodensity in the periventricular region in the late stage. These CT findings, representing the course of neural cell damage by severe hypoglycemia, are discussed from the pathophysiological viewpoint.

Protooncogene abnormalities in colon cancers and adenomatous polyps

To determine the frequency and clinical significance of oncogene abnormalities in colon cancer, deoxyribonucleic acids from 45 colon carcinomas and 15 benign adenomas were hybridized with 14 different protooncogene probes. Abnormalities of oncogenes were found in 22% of cancers at the time of resection. Amplification of c-myc or c-erbB-2 and allelic deletion of c-ras-Ha or c-myb were the most frequent abnormalities. The presence of altered oncogenes did not correlate with Dukes' stage, tumor progression, or patient survival after resection. One adenoma had an allelic deletion of the c-myb oncogene which was not seen in either the normal colon or an adjacent carcinoma. These data indicate that the spectrum of altered protooncogenes in colon carcinoma is similar to that of other adenocarcinomas, and that unstable oncogenes can be found before overt malignancy develops.