[Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor gene amplification in human laryngeal carcinomas by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization].
OBJECTIVE: To detect epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) gene amplification in human laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cell line and laryngeal carcinoma tissues. METHODS: The technique of fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH). RESULTS: The EGFR gene amplification of a laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cell line and 5 laryngeal carcinoma tissues were detected by FISH. In the metaphase chromosome and interphase nuclei of Hep-2 cell line and 2 laryngeal carcinoma tissues, distinct cluster and multiple dot signals were found. In the interphase nuclei of the other 3 laryngeal carcinoma tissues, no increase in the number or extent of the hybrid signals was found. CONCLUSION: Compared with normal diploid cell, the EGFR gene amplification was observed at different levels ranging from 2 to 8 folds in metaphase chromosome and interphase nuclei of Hep-2 cell line and 2 laryngeal carcinoma tissues while no amplification was observed in the other 3 laryngeal carcinoma tissues. The results demonstrate that quantitative detection of amplified gene by FISH in the metaphase chromosome and interphase nuclei is useful for detection of laryngeal carcinoma tissues.