Oncogene abnormalities in astrocytomas: EGF-R gene alone appears to be more frequently amplified and rearranged compared with other protooncogenes
Burgart, L.J.; Robinson, R.A.; Haddad, S.F.; Moore, S.A.
Modern Pathology An Official Journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology Inc 4(2): 183-186
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0893-3952 PMID: 1675468 Document Number: 387013
Ten astrocytomas were tested for gene amplification or rearrangement utilizing distinct probes to nine different oncogenes by Southern hybridization. The probes spanned the four major protein-coding classes of oncogenes; growth factor proteins (csis); growth factor receptor/tyrosine kinase-related proteins [erbB1 (epidermal growth factor receptor, EGF-R), neu (HER2/neu, erbB2), mos, yes]; nuclear binding proteins (c-myc, c-fos); and guanosine 5'-triphosphate binding proteins (N-ras, H-ras). Three astrocytomas, all glioblastomas, showed amplification of EGF-R-related sequences, and two of these amplifications were rearranged. Both rearrangements appeared similar by two different restriction endonucleases. Our findings suggest that it is primarily the EGF-R protooncogene (erbB1) that is amplified or rearranged in astrocytic neoplasms. No other oncogenes were amplified or rearranged, although EGF-R and neu cross-hybridization produced a "pseudo-rearranged" pattern for neu in EGF-R-amplified cases. The similar EGF-R restriction endonuclease abnormalities seen in two patients warrant further study.