THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ONCOGENE AMPLIFICATION IN PRIMARY BREAST-CANCER

Abstract

Alterations in the gene copy numbers of the proto-oncogenes HER2/neu and c-myc in primary human breast cancer investigated in 73 patients. We detected amplification of HER2/neu in 17 patient samples and amplification of c-myc in 11, while amplification of both was seen in 6 samples. There was no correlation of age, hormone receptor positivity or tumour size with amplification of either proto-oncogene. Amplification of HER2/neu was significantly correlated with the stage of the disease. HER2/neu amplification was observed in 18.5% and 38% of node-negative and node-positive patients, respectively; the association between HER2/neu amplification and advanced stage of the disease was statisticall..