ABSTRACT
AIM,To verify whether p73;a homologue of p53,which supposed]y acts as a tumor suppressor gene in neuroblastoma,might also be a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer.METHODS:The allelic expres-sion of p73 in the six non-small cell lung cancer cell lines was studied by Sty I polymorphism analysis.The P73 gene ex.pressions in these six cell lines were examined by reverse transcription-PCR,the expressions of P73 protein in the five cell lines inducing tumor8 were also determined by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Homozygous allelic expression was dem.onstrated in all six cell lines and the GC/GC genotype Was the predominant type.Complete loss of the p73 expression both at mRNA and the protein level was revealed.CONCLUSION:Taken together,our data suggest that p73 might play a role as a tumor suppressor gene in human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.