Original Article


EXPRESSION OF P53 AND C-MYC IN MOUSE LUNG CANCER INDUCED BY COAL BURNING

Chunyan Lin, Xudong Dai, Xiwen Sun, Fenghua Li, Yubo Shi

Abstract

Previous epidemiological studies have shown association between coal burning and human lung cancer. To confirm relationship between coal burning and lung cancer formation and progression the expression of p53 and c-myc in 13 mouse lung cancer induced by coal burning smoke and 5 mouse lung tissue control was studied by DNA-RNA in situ hybridization (ISH). Nine of 13 specimens showed c-myc overexpression but it occurred only 1 of adjacent tissue. There was over pression of p53 mRNA in all 13 lung cancer and 5 adjacent tissue. None in the controls was expression of p53 and c-myc detected. When compared to controls, there was significant higher expression of c-myc gene (P=0.002) and p53 geuc (P=0.0001).

The results confirm that overexpression of p53 and c-myc are common molecular events of lung cancer by coal burning smoke and provide further evidence that smoke from coal burning is a causative agent of lung cancer.