Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Immunohistochemical expression of N-ras oncogene is a late event in head and neck carcinomas

  • Article
  • Published:
Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

This study investigated the expression of the N-ras oncogene in routinely processed tissue sections from 133 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) by immunohistochemistryusing anti-N-ras monoclonal antibody. N-ras expression was present in 67 of 133 (49.67%) cases. There was a highly significant correlation between N-ras expression and clinical stage of disease (P=0.003). This study confirmed that overexpression of the N-ras oncogene is common in SCCHN and that it may be an important event in the late stage of disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Agnantis N.J, Petraki C., Markoulatos P, and Spandidos DA: Immunohistochemical study of the ras oncogene expression in human breast lesions. Anticancer Res 6:1157–1160. 1986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Armitage P and Doll R: The age distribution of cancer and a multi-stage theory of carcinogenesis. Brit J Cancer 8:1–12, 1954.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Balmain A, Ramsden M, Bowden GT, and Smith J: Activation of the mouse cellular Harvey-ras gene in chemically induced benign skin papillomas. Nature 307: 658–660, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Barbacid M: Ras genes. [Review] Ann Review Biochem 56:779–827, 1987.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bos JL: Ras oncogenes in human cancer: a review. Cancer Res 49:4682–4689, 1989.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Candlish W. Kerr IB, and Simpson HW: Immunocytochemical demonstration and significance of ras p21 family oncogene product in benign and malignant breast disease. J Pathol 150:163–167. 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chang SE, Bhatia P, Johnson NW, Morgan PR, McCormick F, Young B, und Hiorns L: Ras mutations in United Kingdom examples of oral malignancies are infrequent. Int J Cancer 48:409–412. 1991.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. DeBortoli ME, Abou-Issa H, Haley BE, and Cho-Chung YS: Amplified expression of p21 ras protein in hormone-dependent mammary carcinomas of humans and rodents. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 127:699–709. 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fearon ER, and Volgestein B, A gene model for colorectal tumorigenesis. [Review] Cell 61:757–767. 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Field JK: Oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. [Review] Oral Oncol Eur J Cancer 28B: 67–76. 1992.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Field JK, and Spandidos DA: Expression of oncogenes in human tumours with special reference to the head and neck region. [Review] J Oral Pathol 16:97–107. 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Hirano T, Steele PE, and Gluckmam JL: Low incidence of point mutation at codon 12 of K-ras proto-oncogene in squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 100:597–599. 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. McDonald JS, Jones H, Pavelic ZP, Pavelic LJ, Stambrook PJ, and Gluckman JL: Immimohistochemical detection of the Hras. K-ras. and N-ras oncogenes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. J Oral Pathol Med 23: 342–346. 1994.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mitsudomi T, Steinberg SM, Oie HK, Mulshine JL, Phelps R, Viallet J, Pass H, Minna JD, and Gazdar AF: Ras gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancers are associated with shortened survival irrespective of treatment intent. Cancer Res 51:4999–5002. 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ohuchi N, Thor A, Page DL, Horan Hand P, Halter SA, and Schlom J: Expression of the 21.000 molecular weight ras protein in a spectrum of benign and malignant human mammary tissues. Cancer Res 46: 2511–2519. 1986.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Palejwala S, and Goldsmith LT: Detection of Ki-ras protooncogene protein by a specific monoclonal antibody. Biotechniques 11:606–608, 1991.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Palejwala S, and Goldsmith LT: Ovarian expression of cellular Ki-ras p21 varies with physiological status. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89:4202–4206, 1992.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Pavelic ZP, Ghukman JL, Gapany M, Reising J, Craven. JM, Kelley DJ, Pavelic LJ, Gapany S, Biddinger P, and Stambrook PJ: Improved immimohistochemical detection of p53 protein in paraffin embedded tissues reveals elevated levels in most head and neck and lung carcinomas: correlation with clinicopathological parameters. Anticancer Res 12:1389–1394. 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Pavelic ZP, Pavelic LJ, Kuvelkar R, and Gapany S: High cmyc expression in benign colorectal lesions correlates with the degree of dysplasia. Anticancer Res 12:171–176. 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Pavelic ZP, Pavelic LJ, Lower EE, Gapany M, Gapany S, Barker EA, and Preisler HD: c-myc. c-erbB2, and Ki-67 expression in normal breast tissue, invasive and non-invasive breast carcinoma. Cancer Res 52:2597–2602. 1992.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Pavelic ZP, Portugal LG, Gootee MJ, Stambrook PJ, Smith C, Mugge RE, Pavelic LJ, Wilson K, Buncher RC, Li Y-Q, McDonald JS, and Gluckman JL: Retrieval of p53 protein in paraffin-embedded head and neck tumor tissues. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 119:1206–1209. 1993.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Quintanilla M, Brown K, Ramsden M, and Balmain A: Carcinogen-specific mutation and amplification of Ha-ras during mouse skin carcinogenesis. Nature 322:78–80, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Rumshy G, Carter RL, and Gusterson BA: Low incidence of ras oncogene activation in human squamous cell carcinomas. Br J Cancer 61:365–368, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Saranath D, Chang SE, Bhoite LT, Panchal RG, Kerr IB, Mehta AR, Johnson, NW, and Deo MG: High frequency mutation in codons 12 and 61 of H-ras oncogene in chewing tobacco-related human oral carcinoma in India. Br J Cancer 63:573–578. 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sheng ZM, Barrois M, Klijanienko J, Micheau C, Richard JM, and Riou G: Analysis of the c-Ha-ras-1 gene for deletion, mutation, amplification and expression in lymph node metastases of human head and neck carcinomas. Br J Cancer 62:398–404. 1990.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Shi SR, Key ME, and Kalra KL: Antigen retrieval in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues: an enhancement method for immunohistochemical staining based on microwave oven heating of tissue sections. J Histochem Cytochem 39:741–748. 1991.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Salomon E, Borrow J and Goddard AD: Chromosome aberrations and cancer. [Review] Sci 254:1153–1160, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Whittaker JL, Walker RA, and Varley JM: Differential expression of cellular oncogenes in benign and malignant human breast tissue. Int J Cancer38:651–655, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio

    John S. McDonald, Keith M. Wilson, Robert L. Sonkk, Ljiljana Pavelic, Jack L. Gluckman & Zlatko P. Pavelic

  2. Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio

    Peter Gartside

  3. Medical School, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

    Eric Okum & Julie Neanen

Authors
  1. John S. McDonald
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Keith M. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peter Gartside
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Robert L. Sonkk
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ljiljana Pavelic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Eric Okum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Julie Neanen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Jack L. Gluckman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Zlatko P. Pavelic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McDonald, J.S., Wilson, K.M., Gartside, P. et al. Immunohistochemical expression of N-ras oncogene is a late event in head and neck carcinomas. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 2, 30–33 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893944

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893944

Key words

Search

Navigation