Oncogenes in human primary hepatic cancer.

Transfection assay of NIH 3T3 cells was performed with DNAs isolated from ten human PHC (primary hepatic cancer) specimens and a hepatoma 7402 cell line. Positive results were obtained in 7402 and in six out of ten PHC DNAs. Human N-ras gene was identified in transfectants from 7402 DNA and transformed cells from three PHC DNA samples, which had passed more than two cycles of transfection. The expression of N-ras was also remarkably enhanced in six out of nine poly(A)+RNA samples isolated from PHC tissues. P21 synthesis was elevated in 7402 cells as well as in transfectants derived from 7402 cells and PHC DNA. In analysis of PHC DNA, rearrangement and amplification of N-ras gene was observed in two PHC samples. The discrepancy of results of the transfection assay and mRNA expression was discussed. Furthermore, c-myc was also highly expressed in most PHC tissues. It implied that the cooperating activity of N-ras and c-myc might be responsible for the malignant phenotypic alteration in some or most cases in human primary liver cancer.