Decreased expression of the deleted in colorectal carcinoma gene in non-
Hodgkin's lymphoma
A Younes, S Zhao, D Jendiroba, HD Kleine, F Cabanillas and M Andreeff
Department of Hematology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center,
Houston 77030, USA.
The putative tumor suppressor gene deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC),
located on human chromosome band 18q21, is deleted or inactivated in many
solid tumors. Its role in the pathogenesis of non- Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
has not been studied. Recently, inactivation of this gene was reported in
cases of leukemia with monosomy 18. As monosomy 18 is frequently observed
in low-grade NHL, we investigated the incidence of altered DCC gene
expression in patients with NHL, and correlated it with the number of
copies of chromosome 18. Fifteen unselected cases of NHL were studied for
evidence of DCC gene expression by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain
reaction. The results were correlated with Southern blot analysis of the
DCC gene and with the number of copies of chromosome 18 determined by
fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). The controls were tissues from
normal colon mucosa and normal tonsils. Eight of 15 (53%) NHL cases lacked
DCC mRNA, and one expressed substantially less than normal. Southern blot
analysis showed normal configuration of the DCC gene in all samples. Two
copies of chromosome 18 were found in 9 of 11 samples studied by FISH: one
case had a subpopulation of cells with monosomy 18 and one had trisomy 18.
All controls expressed DCC. We conclude that DCC gene expression is
frequently absent or decreased in NHL and may be involved in the
pathogenesis of NHL. Monosomy 18 was not required for DCC inactivation.
Volume 85,
Issue 10,
pp. 2813-2816,
05/15/1995
Copyright © 1995 by The American Society of Hematology
