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Biomedical subjects

J Minna

Publications and source records attributed to J Minna.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A major lung cancer susceptibility locus maps to chromosome 6q23-25.

Lung cancer is a major cause of death in the United States and other countries. The risk of lung cancer is greatly increased by cigarette smoking and by certain occupational exposures, but familial factors also clearly play a major role. To identify susceptibility genes for familial lung cancer, we conducted a genomewide linkage analysis of 52 extended pedigrees ascertained through probands with lung cancer who had several first-degree relatives with the same disease. Multipoint linkage analysis, under a simple autosomal dominant model, of all 52 families with three or more individuals affected by lung, throat, or laryngeal cancer, yielded a maximum heterogeneity LOD score (HLOD) of 2.79 at 155 cM on chromosome 6q (marker D6S2436). A subset of 38 pedigrees with four or more affected individuals yielded a multipoint HLOD of 3.47 at 155 cM. Analysis of a further subset of 23 multigenerational pedigrees with five or more affected individuals yielded a multipoint HLOD score of 4.26 at the same position. The 14 families with only three affected relatives yielded negative LOD scores in this region. A predivided samples test for heterogeneity comparing the LOD scores from the 23 multigenerational families with those from the remaining families was significant (P=.007). The 1-HLOD multipoint support interval from the multigenerational families extends from C6S1848 at 146 cM to 164 cM near D6S1035, overlapping a genomic region that is deleted in sporadic lung cancers as well as numerous other cancer types. Parametric linkage and variance-components analysis that incorporated effects of age and personal smoking also supported linkage in this region, but with somewhat diminished support. These results localize a major susceptibility locus influencing lung cancer risk to 6q23-25.

Chromosome Mapping↗

Alterations of the PPP2R1B gene in human lung and colon cancer.

The PPP2R1B gene, which encodes the beta isoform of the A subunit of the serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), was identified as a putative human tumor suppressor gene. Sequencing of the PPP2R1B gene, located on human chromosome 11q22-24, revealed somatic alterations in 15% (5 out of 33) of primary lung tumors, 6% (4 out of 70) of lung tumor-derived cell lines, and 15% (2 out of 13) of primary colon tumors. One deletion mutation generated a truncated PP2A-Abeta protein that was unable to bind to the catalytic subunit of the PP2A holoenzyme. The PP2R1B gene product may suppress tumor development through its role in cell cycle regulation and cellular growth control.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Homozygous deletions at 3p12 in breast and lung cancer.

We have constructed a physical map of the region homozygously deleted in the U2020 cell line at 3p12, including the location of putative CpG islands. Adjacent to one of these islands, we have identified and cloned a new gene (DUTT1) and used probes from this gene to detect two other homozygous deletions occurring in lung and breast carcinomas: the smallest deletion is within the gene itself and would result in a truncated protein. The DUTT1 gene is a member of the neural cell adhesion molecule family, although its widespread expression suggests it plays a less specialized role compared to other members of the family.

Breast Neoplasms↗

BAP1: a novel ubiquitin hydrolase which binds to the BRCA1 RING finger and enhances BRCA1-mediated cell growth suppression.

We have identified a novel protein, BAP1, which binds to the RING finger domain of the Breast/Ovarian Cancer Susceptibility Gene product, BRCA1. BAP1 is a nuclear-localized, ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase, suggesting that deubiquitinating enzymes may play a role in BRCA1 function. BAP1 binds to the wild-type BRCA1-RING finger, but not to germline mutants of the BRCA1-RING finger found in breast cancer kindreds. BAP1 and BRCA1 are temporally and spatially co-expressed during murine breast development and remodeling, and show overlapping patterns of subnuclear distribution. BAP1 resides on human chromosome 3p21.3; intragenic homozygous rearrangements and deletions of BAP1 have been found in lung carcinoma cell lines. BAP1 enhances BRCA1-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell growth and is the first nuclear-localized ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase to be identified. BAP1 may be a new tumor suppressor gene which functions in the BRCA1 growth control pathway.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The DUTT1 gene, a novel NCAM family member is expressed in developing murine neural tissues and has an unusually broad pattern of expression.

A new member of the NCAM family mapping to 3p12 has been isolated and predicted to be arranged in five immunoglobulin-like domains and three fibronectin-like domains which are particularly homologous to L1. There is a transmembrane domain and a long cytoplasmic region with no detectable homology to other sequences. Although less closely related to DCC, another family member, both share a loop of positively charged amino acids within the first immunoglobulin domain, unique to these two members of this very large gene family. Preliminary studies of expression in mouse embryos support an inferred role in neural development, but the observation of widespread gene expression in adult human tissues indicates that this protein has additional functions to those performed in neural cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of bcl-2 in small cell lung carcinoma cells.

We have investigated the expression of bcl-2 protein in a panel of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells lines. Five of six cell lines examined expressed relatively high levels of bcl-2 protein and transcripts. The bcl-2 expression in SCLC cells, however, was not always associated with myc expression. Since dysregulation of bcl-2 may be involved in the course of tumorigenesis and/or in the acquisition of drug resistance of tumor cells, the expression of bcl-2 in SCLC cells may become an important indicator in the prognosis or treatment of SCLC.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

p53 immunostaining positivity is associated with reduced survival and is imperfectly correlated with gene mutations in resected non-small cell lung cancer. A preliminary report of LCSG 871.

We investigated the correlation of p53 abnormalities with survival in 85 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had undergone resection with curative intent as part of Lung Cancer Study Group (LCSG) 871. Our previous studies showed that only a subset of p53 mutations in lung cancers result in overexpression. In addition, protein overexpression has been described in the absence of mutation. Therefore, we determined both p53 protein overexpression (by immunostaining) and p53 and ras gene mutations (by single-strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing) in this set of resected tumor specimens. Clinical follow-up data were available for 75 cases. Of the studied patients, 64% showed p53 overexpression and 51% had mutant p53 sequences; however, the concordance rate was only 67%. There was a negative survival correlation with positive p53 immunostaining (p = 0.05), but not with the presence of gene mutations (p = 0.62) in this group of patients. Overexpression of p53 protein determined by immunostaining may contribute to adverse outcome due to the ability of p53 to act as a dominant oncogene, or alternatively, overexpression may reflect ongoing DNA damage in the tumor as a marker for a more aggressive behavior. When adjusted for stage, age, and gender by multivariate analysis, however, there was no independent impact of p53 overexpression on survival.

Adult↗

Distinct regions of p53 have a differential role in transcriptional activation and repression functions.

The wild type p53 tumor suppressor protein transactivates genes carrying p53 responsive elements and represses several TATA containing promoters. We report in vivo gene regulation assays where deletion of the N-terminal 75 residues (delta N75) results in loss of transactivation of p53CON and repression of an HPV 6 reporter. In contrast, removal of the C-terminal 75 (delta C75) amino acids resulted in a truncated protein capable of trans-activating p53CON but not able to repress the HPV 6 reporter. In vitro protein association assays revealed that the delta N75 protein, but not the delta C75 truncated protein, could oligomerize with the wild type p53 protein. Co-transfection assays with wild type p53 showed that the delta N75 mutant protein has a dominant negative effect on trans-activation function. However, it does not affect the ability of wild type p53 to repress transcription from the HPV 6 receptor. The delta C75 protein had no effect on the ability of the wild type p53 to activate p53CON or repress the HPV 6 reporter. These results suggest that distinct regions of p53 have a differential role in transcriptional activation and repression functions.

Base Sequence↗

Randomized trial of neoadjuvant therapy for lung cancer: interim analysis.

The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in stage IIIa non-small cell lung cancer remains undefined. Since 1987, 27 patients with non-small cell lung cancer, all with histologically confirmed metastases to the ipsilateral mediastinal lymph nodes, have been enrolled in an ongoing prospective, randomized trial at our institution. Thirteen patients have been randomized to preoperative etoposide-platinum (EP) chemotherapy-surgery-postoperative EP, and 14 other patients have been randomized to surgery-postoperative mediastinal irradiation (SRT). Both groups are similar in sex, age, weight loss, tumor location, preoperative pulmonary function, physiologic grade, and tumor histology. Eight of the 13 EP patients have responded as evidenced by a 50% or greater radiographic tumor shrinkage after two cycles. Complete tumor and nodal resection rates were similar: 11/13 EP patients versus 12/14 SRT patients. There was no operative mortality for the 27 patients. Median potential follow-up is 29.9 months for the EP group and 34.9 months for the SRT group. Preliminary results suggest a trend toward increased survival time for the EP group (median, 28.7 months) versus the SRT group (median, 15.6 months) (p2 = 0.095). Eleven of 12 resected SRT patients have had recurrence versus 8 of 11 resected EP patients. Time to recurrence reveals no significant differences between the two groups but a trend toward increased disease-free interval in the EP group (12.7 months versus 5.8 months, EP versus SRT). This interim analysis demonstrates the feasibility of such a trial; however, despite the trends, definitive conclusions await further accrual and study maturation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Temperature-sensitive mutants of p53 associated with human carcinoma of the lung.

We have compared the effects of specific point mutations on the tertiary and quaternary structure of the human p53 protein. Eight mutants, each derived from primary resected tissues of lung carcinomas, were expressed in vitro under strictly defined conditions, such that the only known variant was the point mutation present in each p53 mRNA. All the mutations were located in highly conserved domains. The tertiary structure of each mutant protein was investigated by reactivity with anti-p53 monoclonal antibodies directed against conformation-dependent epitopes. Quaternary structure was examined by gel filtration. Although all the mutant proteins exhibited abnormal tertiary structures, their quaternary structures appeared similar to wild type, the one exception being p53-tyr135, which contains tyrosine in place of cysteine at residue 135. The conformational phenotype of mutant human p53 was found to be dependent upon (i) the locus of the mutation and (ii) the nature of the amino acid substitution: two different substitutions at residue 273 yielded two mutants with differing structural properties. We have discovered three mutants of human p53 that are temperature sensitive for conformation; one is mutated at codon 273, a 'hotspot' for p53 mutation in human cancer.

Carcinoma↗

jun-B inhibits and c-fos stimulates the transforming and trans-activating activities of c-jun.

We have cloned the human jun-B gene and determined its sequence and transforming and trans-activating activities. jun-B is less potent that c-jun in transforming and immortalizing primary rat embryo cells in cooperation with activated ras (effects enhanced by c-fos and TPA); unlike c-jun, jun-B does not transform Rat-1A cells alone. However, cotransfection of c-jun and jun-B into primary rat embryo cells with c-Ha-ras results in a significant decrease in transformation compared with c-jun alone, an event reversed by TPA. Cotransfection of c-jun and jun-B with or without c-fos into F9 teratocarcinoma cells results in decreased trans-activation of AP-1 compared with either gene alone. Introduction of jun-B into primary rat c-jun/ras transformants or c-jun into jun-B/ras transformants also results in a decrease in trans-activation. These findings demonstrate that, whereas jun-B and c-jun each participate in AP-1 trans-activation and malignant transformation, interactions between them involve negative regulation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The human L-myc gene is expressed as two forms of protein in small cell lung carcinoma cell lines: detection by monoclonal antibodies specific to two myc homology box sequences.

The L-myc gene is the third member of the myc family of proto-oncogenes. Amplification and elevated expression of the L-myc gene has been detected in a subset of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell lines. The biological properties and functions of the L-myc gene and its product have not yet been elucidated. Monoclonal antibodies against two myc homology boxes were used to characterize the L-myc gene product. These antibodies react with two groups of polypeptides of apparent masses of 60, 61 and 66 kd (the long forms), and 34 and 37 kd (the short forms) in SCLC cells expressing L-myc transcripts. The long form L-myc proteins are associated with the nuclear fraction of the cells. The short form L-myc proteins are present in the cytoplasmic fraction, though diffusion of the short forms from the nucleus during cell fractionation cannot be ruled out. The half-life of the long form polypeptides is approximately 45-90 min. The short form polypeptides have a half-life of approximately 120-180 min. The L-myc protein is not detectable in the mitotic cells, suggesting that the L-myc protein expression is tightly regulated during the cell cycle.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure and expression of the human L-myc gene reveal a complex pattern of alternative mRNA processing.

We analyzed in detail the structure of the L-myc gene isolated from human placental DNA and characterized its expression in several small-cell lung cancer cell lines. The gene is composed of three exons and two introns spanning 6.6 kilobases in human DNA. Several distinct mRNA species are produced in all small-cell lung cancer cell lines that express L-myc. These transcripts are generated from a single gene by alternative splicing of introns 1 and 2 and by use of alternative polyadenylation signals. In some mRNAs there is a long open reading frame with a predicted translated protein of 364 residues. Amino acid sequence comparison with c-myc and N-myc demonstrated multiple discrete regions with extensive homology. In contrast, other mRNA transcripts, generated by alternative processing, could encode a truncated protein with a novel carboxy-terminal end.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The human L-myc gene encodes multiple nuclear phosphoproteins from alternatively processed mRNAs.

The human proto-oncogene L-myc generates at least four different mRNAs by alternative RNA processing. We have identified two phosphorylated L-myc proteins with molecular masses of 60,000 and 66,000 daltons [p60L-myc(human) and p66L-myc(human)] in a small-cell carcinoma line expressing high levels of L-myc mRNA. These proteins have a short half-life and are localized to the nuclear matrix fraction, as previously reported for the c-myc and N-myc proteins. In vitro translation experiments demonstrated that both the p60 and p66 species are encoded by a 3.9-kilobase (kb) mRNA which retains intron 1, while only the p60 protein is translated from a 3.6-kb L-myc mRNA which has had intron 1 removed. While L-myc proteins [p32L-myc(human) and p37L-myc(human)] could be synthesized in vitro from 2.2-kb mRNA templates, no such proteins were detected by immunoprecipitation in vivo. These observations suggest that alternative RNA processing of the L-myc transcript could play a role in determining the steady-state levels of the p60L-myc and p66L-myc proteins.

Humans↗

Multiple mechanisms for transcriptional regulation of the myc gene family in small-cell lung cancer.

The molecular mechanisms reported to regulate the expression of myc family genes are multiple and complex and include gene amplification, transcriptional activation, transcriptional attenuation, and mRNA stability. We have investigated which of these mechanisms are responsible for the extreme variation in myc gene family mRNA levels observed in human small-cell lung cancer cell lines. In addition to gene amplification, a block to nascent mRNA chain elongation, causing attenuation of transcription, is an important regulatory mechanism controlling the steady-state levels of c-myc and L-myc mRNA. The loss of transcriptional attenuation is correlated with overexpression of these two genes in cell lines which do not show gene amplification. Expression of c-myc mRNA appears to be dependent on promoter activity and attenuator function. In contrast, regulation of expression of the N-myc gene does not involve transcriptional attenuation; steady-state mRNA levels are correlated with promoter activity as well as gene amplification. We conclude that transcriptional regulation of each member of the myc gene family is accomplished by a different assortment of complex mechanisms, including gene copy number, promoter activation, and transcriptional attenuation. Interference at multiple points in this complex regulatory process appears to be an important mechanism by which small-cell lung cancer and other human tumors evade growth control.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Molecular analysis of the short arm of chromosome 3 in small-cell and non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung.

Previous studies have suggested that the loss of DNA sequences on the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) is associated with small-cell lung carcinoma. We therefore looked for loss of 3p alleles in tumor tissue from 42 patients with either small-cell or non-small-cell lung carcinoma. All 13 patients with small-cell lung carcinoma who were heterozygous for one or more alleles at 3p in normal tissue had the loss of at least one codominant allele in the tumor tissue. Cell lines of small-cell lung carcinoma from an additional eight patients were homozygous for 3p alleles; this result was significantly different from the predicted frequency of homozygosity. The tumor tissue studied included cell lines of small-cell lung carcinoma obtained from biopsy specimens, an autopsy sample, and an excised lymph node containing tumor cells. Loss of alleles at 3p was observed in tumor samples obtained before and after chemotherapy. Four of 15 evaluable patients with non-small-cell carcinoma of the lung had loss of 3p alleles. We conclude that loss of alleles at 3p is a change found consistently in small-cell lung carcinoma and occasionally in non-small-cell lung carcinoma.

Alleles↗

Mapping the idiotopes of a monoclonal anti-myoglobin antibody with syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies: detection of a common idiotope.

A panel of syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies was prepared by immunizing A.SW mice with keyhole limpet hemocyanin-coupled A.SW monoclonal anti-myoglobin (HAL 19, IgG1) and screening the cloned hybridomas for production of IgG2 binding to idiotype but not to certain other anti-myoglobin antibodies of the same subclass in an ELISA. With these antibodies, we identified three nonoverlapping idiotopes, based on three clusters of monoclonal anti-idiotopes that mutually inhibit within each cluster, but not between clusters (Cluster I: S2, S6, S8; Cluster II: S5, S7; Cluster III: S9). Only Cluster II antibodies block the binding of myoglobin to HAL 19 and so identify a binding site-related idiotope(s). Binding of both Cluster II monoclonals (S5 and S7) to Hal 19 is inhibited by a rabbit anti-idiotype that we previously reported detects a common cross-reactive anti-myoglobin idiotope in immune sera. However, only one of these, S7, and not S5, identifies an idiotope that is present on 20 to 30% of A.SW anti-myoglobin antibodies in immune sera and ascites. The panel of syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotype antibodies also detects new idiotopes not detected by the rabbit anti-idiotype. The development of a panel of syngeneic monoclonal anti-idiotypic antibodies to different clusters of idiotopes on the same antibody molecule, including one that identifies a major common idiotope in immune sera, should allow the analysis of possible idiotype network regulation in vivo and in vitro in a completely syngeneic system.

Animals↗