摘要
Objectives To investigate the c myc gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at mRNA and protein levels, and to evaluate the relationship between the degree of expression and the clinicopathological data. Methods The expression of c myc specific mRNA and protein was detected using in situ hybridization with digoxigenin labeled probe and immunohistochemistry in 12 cases of normal nasopharyngeal epithelium (NE) and 48 cases of NPC. The intensity of staining for each sample was assessed as negative, weak, moderate and intense. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi square test and the rank sum test. Results For normal NE, 41.7% (5/12) had weak (4/12) or moderate (1/12) staining for c myc protein and 41.7% (5/12) had weak staining for c myc mRNA. In contrast, 89.6% (43/48) of NPC showed some degree of c myc protein positive and 87.5% (42/48) showed some degree of c myc mRNA positive. In most samples, the expression of c myc protein was consistent with that of c myc mRNA. C myc protein and mRNA expression levels in NPC were significantly higher than those in normal NE, and correlated with early recurrence, but they were not significantly related to patient′s age, sex, EBVCA IgA titre, disease stage, lymph node status and metastasis. Conclusions C myc gene over expression may be involved in the pathogenesis and early recurrence of NPC. Further studies are needed to substantiate the preliminary findings.
Objectives To investigate the c myc gene expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at mRNA and protein levels, and to evaluate the relationship between the degree of expression and the clinicopathological data. Methods The expression of c myc specific mRNA and protein was detected using in situ hybridization with digoxigenin labeled probe and immunohistochemistry in 12 cases of normal nasopharyngeal epithelium (NE) and 48 cases of NPC. The intensity of staining for each sample was assessed as negative, weak, moderate and intense. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi square test and the rank sum test. Results For normal NE, 41.7% (5/12) had weak (4/12) or moderate (1/12) staining for c myc protein and 41.7% (5/12) had weak staining for c myc mRNA. In contrast, 89.6% (43/48) of NPC showed some degree of c myc protein positive and 87.5% (42/48) showed some degree of c myc mRNA positive. In most samples, the expression of c myc protein was consistent with that of c myc mRNA. C myc protein and mRNA expression levels in NPC were significantly higher than those in normal NE, and correlated with early recurrence, but they were not significantly related to patient′s age, sex, EBVCA IgA titre, disease stage, lymph node status and metastasis. Conclusions C myc gene over expression may be involved in the pathogenesis and early recurrence of NPC. Further studies are needed to substantiate the preliminary findings.
