Prognostic significance of the expression of ras oncogene product in non-small cell lung cancer

Article Abstract:

Oncogenes were first defined as the cancer-causing genes of certain viruses. The discovery that similar, though not identical, genes were present in normal cells suggested that the development of cancer is often a mere alteration of the normal processes which control cell replication. The term oncogene is now used by many to include the normal cellular genes as well as actual cancer-causing genes in viruses. One of the most widely studied oncogenes is the gene ras. The ras gene encodes a protein of 21,000 daltons molecular weight, and many studies have found that this protein is preferentially expressed in some cancerous cells. Using monoclonal antibodies which react specifically with this 21 kD ras gene product, abbreviated simply ras p21, researchers have examined 116 specimens of non-small cell lung cancer for expression of this oncogene product. Ras p21 was found in 29 of 42 specimens of the adenocarcinoma type and in 23 of 43 specimens of the squamous cell carcinoma type. Expression of ras p21 was more common among the more advanced cancers. The absence of ras p21 expression was found to be a statistically significant indicator of more favorable prognosis. The prognostic value of ras p21 expression remained significant even when correlation of ras p21 expression with cancer stage was taken into account. In the present series of patients, the five-year survival of patients negative for ras p21 was 64 percent. In contrast, the patients with moderate p21 expression, as determined by microscopic examination, had five-year survival of 38 percent. Among the patients with the highest levels of ras p21 expression, the five-year survival was 11 percent. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Proto-oncogenes, Oncogenes, Ras genes

---

Flow cytometric analysis of the nuclear DNA content of hepatoblastoma

Article Abstract:

As new options for cancer treatment become available, it becomes more important to determine which treatments are most appropriate for particular patients. The identification of new prognostic factors seems likely to provide useful information about which patients are most likely to need more aggressive therapy and which patients are likely to enjoy a favorable outcome with minimal treatment. One characteristic of cancer cells that may prove useful as a prognostic factor is the DNA content. The advent of automated laboratory techniques has made it practical to measure DNA in cancer cells on a cell-by-cell basis. One method for accomplishing this if flow cytometry; researchers have now evaluated the use of flow cytometry in establishing prognostic factors for hepatoblastoma, a form of liver cancer. Fifteen hepatoblastoma specimens were examined. The researchers found that nine of the specimens had DNA measurements that were consistent with a diploid chromosome complement. This is the normal number of chromosomes, which in humans is 23 pairs. The remaining six tumors were aneuploid, which indicates an abnormal number of chromosomes, although some of these tumors were a mixture of both diploid and aneuploid cells. The presence of a normal diploid number of chromosomes was associated with a more favorable prognosis. The authors indicate that the five-year survival rate of the patients with diploid tumors was 100 percent, in contrast with the 20 percent five-year survival rate for patients with aneuploid tumors. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Abnormalities, DNA, Cell proliferation, Chromosome abnormalities, Liver cancer, Aneuploidy, Chromosome numbers

---

Prognostic and therapeutic significance of the flow cytometric nuclear DNA content on non-small cell lung cancer

Article Abstract:

The DNA content of cells may be measured rapidly using flow cytometry, and the results may be used to infer the chromosome complement of individual cells. In many different tumors, the chromosome complement, either the normal diploid number or an abnormal aneuploid number, has been shown to correlate with prognosis. However, the nature of this correlation is different for different types of tumors. To determine the prognostic role of cellular DNA content in non-small cell lung cancer, cellular nuclei were obtained from 310 paraffin-embedded specimens obtained from 130 patients with non-small lung cancer. Overall, having DNA content indicative of a diploid chromosome complement was predictive of a better outcome than an aneuploid complement. However, when squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was considered separately from adenocarcinoma, only in the squamous cell carcinoma did the ploidy have a statistically significant correlation with prognosis. This may be due to the fact that aneuploidy was more common among the adenocarcinomas, perhaps masking any real correlation with outcome. Even when matched stage for stage with the squamous cell carcinomas, an adenocarcinoma at a given stage had a greater probability of being aneuploid than did the SCC. DNA content may prove to be an independent forecaster of cancer outcome for non-small cell lung cancer, but only if the type of lung cancer is also considered. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Squamous cell carcinoma, Adenocarcinoma

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Expression of blood-group antigen A - a favorable prognostic factor in non-small-cell lung cancer. Flow cytometric analysis of the DNA content of non-small cell lung cancer: ploidy as a significant prognostic indicator in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
• Abstracts: Evaluation of high-dose etoposide combined with cisplatin for treating relapsed small cell lung cancer
• Abstracts: Evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of home monitoring of uterine contractions
• Abstracts: In vivo antinuclear antibody of the skin: diagnostic significance and association with selective antinuclear antibodies
• Abstracts: A phase I trial of CGS 16949A: a new aromatase inhibitor. Thyroid dysfunction in elderly hospitalized patients: effect of age and severity of illness

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.