Correlation of L-myc RFLP with metastasis, prognosis and multiple cancer in lung-cancer patients

Int J Cancer. 1992 Feb 20;50(4):557-61. doi: 10.1002/ijc.2910500411.

Abstract

For further study of the correlation of L-myc restriction-fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) and metastasis of lung cancer to lymph nodes or other organs at the time of surgery, L-myc RFLP was analyzed in 252 Japanese lung-cancer patients. A close correlation between L-myc RFLP and metastasis was confirmed in this large number of patients (p = 0.01). The correlation was particularly pronounced in cases of adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma. Poor prognosis (additional metastases after surgery) was observed in lung-cancer patients with L-S (identified as long and short bands produced with EcoRI) and S-S type L-myc RFLP. In addition, the death rate of lung-cancer patients with the L-S and S-S types was greater than that of those with the L-L type. Lung-cancer patients of the L-S and S-S types had almost 4 times higher incidence of multiple cancer in the lung, pharynx and other organs than those with the L-L type. Our results indicate that, in patients with lung cancer, genetic disposition with respect to the L-myc gene influences the extent of metastasis, the incidence of multiple cancers and prognosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Genes, myc*
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Sex Factors
  • Smoking
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc