Oncogenes: Their presence and significance in squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

Abstract

DNA extracted from squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx and tongue has been shown to contain cellular transforming genes characterized by their ability to transform mouse fibroblasts into malignant foci of cells which, when subsequently cloned and grown to volume, have been found to contain human DNA sequences. This DNA has been serially passaged through subsequent populations of NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts. Higher malignant transformation efficiencies have been observed and reported with serial passage. Of greater significance is the repeated identification of oncogenes of identical characteristics on electrophoretic radioisotope analysis.