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The N‐myc gene product in primary retinoblastomas
Author(s) -
Yokoyama Takahiko,
Tsukahara Tetsuo,
Nakagawa Chizuru,
Kikuchi Takanobu,
Minoda Kensei,
Shimatake Hiroyuki
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19890601)63:11<2134::aid-cncr2820631111>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - gene product , retinoblastoma , gene , fusion gene , microbiology and biotechnology , gene expression , biology , cancer research , medicine , genetics
The N‐ myc gene product in retinoblastomas was examined using the antisera against the N‐myc gene product, which was produced as a fusion protein by Escherichia coli. The N‐ myc gene product was detected not only in the retinoblastoma cell line Y79 but also in primary retinoblastomas as a pair of bands of approximately 62 kilodaltons (KD) by immunoblotting. Immunohistochemical analysis showed positively stained cells with the antibody against the N‐ myc gene product in a few rosettes or fleuretts containing area of the tumor. The nuclei of the cells were positively stained. The N‐ myc gene product was not detected in the normal part of the retina or in other parts of the eye. The results suggested that the level of the N‐ myc gene product may be inversely correlated with the differentiation of retinoblastoma cells and that the detection of the N‐ myc gene product may be useful in the diagnosis of retinoblastoma. Because the undifferentiated form of retinoblastoma carries a worse prognosis than the differentiated forms, the level of the N‐ myc gene product may be related to the aggressiveness of the tumor cells. It remains to be seen whether metastatic retinoblastoma has a higher concentration of the N‐ myc gene product.