Detection of the c-m c Oncogene Amplification in Ovarian Carcinomas by Differential Polymerase Chain Reaction

ABSTRACT

The amplification of c-myc oncogene was evaluated in 42 cases of ovarian carcinomas to correlate with clinical parameters. Using oligonucleotide primers, sequences from the c-myc exon-3 gene and from a control gene, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), were amplified simultaneously by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After the products of differential PCR (d-PCR) were electrophoresed, slot blot hybridization was performed, and hybridized with P32 dATP-labeled myc and tPA oligonucleotide probes and then autoradiographed. The signal intensities of the two products were quantitated by densitometry and the ratios of two products (c-myc/tPA) were measured. The ovarian carcinomas showed significantly increased amplification of c-myc oncogene Oligonucleoti compared to normal control group (p<0.05). 15 of 42 cases (35.7%) showed various degrees of the MYC gene amplification up to 27 folds in various histologic types of ovarian carcinomas. No significant differences of the MYC gene amplification according to histologic subtypes, tumor action) grades and clinical stages of ovarian carcinomas were present.