MULTIPLE TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATION OF CELLULAR ONCOGENES IN HUMAN HEAD AND NECK SOLID TUMORS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 5  (2) , 221-224
Abstract
Expression of 6 cellular oncogenes in fresh human tumor and normal tissue from head and neck regions of 20 patients were assessed: 7 samples of normal tissue (controls), 4 premalignant (pleomorphic salivary adenoma) and 14 malignant tumors (squamous cell carcinoma) were examined. Normal and malignant tissue was available from the same patient in 4 cases, whereas normal and premalignant tissue in 1 case. Significant elevation of Ha-ras, Ki-ras and myc oncogene expression were found both in premalignant and malignant tumors as compared to the normal tissue. Oncogenes fes, abl and sis were expressed at similar low levels in all tissues examined. Activation of multiple oncogenes is apparently suggested in premalignant and malignant tumors from the human head and neck regions.