Absence of genomes of DNA tumor viruses and expression of oncogenes and growth factors in two esophageal carcinoma cell lines of Chinese origin.

To study the oncogenesis of human esophageal carcinoma, the presence of DNA sequences homologous to several DNA tumor viruses and the expression of oncogenes and growth factor genes were examined in two esophageal carcinoma cell lines of Chinese origin, CE48T/VGH and CE81T/VGH. Southern blot analyses failed to detect sequences homologous to hepatitis B virus (HBV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), cytomegalovirus (CMV) or human papilloma virus (HPV) genomes. Northern blot analyses revealed that c-myc, c-src, c-H-ras, c-abl, c-sis, and p53 genes were expressed. In addition, transcripts of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), TGF beta, and platelet derived growth factor A (PDGF A) genes were detected. These studies suggest that DNA tumor viruses may not be involved in the carcinogenesis of esophageal carcinoma. However, cooperation among different oncogenes and the production of growth factors may play an important role in that carcinogenesis.