Objective: To clarify the relationship between c-myc gene amplification and expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue.
Methods: Levels of amplification, transcription and P62 myc expression of c-myc gene in tumor tissues and corresponding non-tumor tissues were systematically studied using Dot blot hybridization, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical technique, respectively. The 14 pairs of specimens were resected from patients with HCC.
Results: The amplification of c-myc gene was not found in tumor and non-tumor tissues. Overexpression of c-myc mRNA transcription was detected in 11 tumor tissues and 10 non-tumor tissues. The positive rate of P62 myc was 85.7% (12/14) in tumor tissues and 92.9% (13/14) in non-tumor tissues, respectively. A close correlation was noticed between c-myc mRNA and P62 myc expression. The results suggested that c-myc gene overexpression was not related to its amplification.
Conclusions: The overexpression of c-myc mRNA and gene product without amplification may be characteristic in HCC.