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Insertional mutagenesis of the myc locus by a LINE-1 sequence in a human breast carcinoma

Nature volume 333, pages 87–90 (1988)Cite this article

Abstract

The proto-oncogene c-myc is the cellular homologue of the transforming sequence carried by the avian myelocytomastosis virus MC29. A growing body of evidence implicates structural and functional alterations in and around proto-oncogenes such as c-myc in tumorogenesis. Here we report that comparison of the structure of myc from a ductal adenocarcinoma of the breast and from normal breast tissue of the same patient (Sc) revealed a tumour-specific rearrangement of one myc locus and amplification of the other myc locus. (For myc reviews see refs 1–4; for myc involvement in breast neoplasia see refs 5–7.) Within the second intron of the rearranged locus was a non-myc sequence with nearly complete homology to a long interspersed repetitive element (a LINE-1 sequence or LI). In this case, the L1 sequence has functioned as a mobile genetic element to produce a somatic mutation.

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Author notes

  1. Paul G. Rotherg

    Present address: Department of Human Genetics, Roswell Park Memorial Institute, Buffalo, New York, 14263, USA

  2. John M. Spandorfer

    Present address: Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fox Chase Cancer Center, Institute for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111, USA

    Buzzy Morse, Paul G. Rotherg, Victoria J. South, John M. Spandorfer & Susan M. Astrin

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  1. Buzzy Morse
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  2. Paul G. Rotherg
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  3. Victoria J. South
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  4. John M. Spandorfer
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  5. Susan M. Astrin
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Morse, B., Rotherg, P., South, V. et al. Insertional mutagenesis of the myc locus by a LINE-1 sequence in a human breast carcinoma. Nature 333, 87–90 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/333087a0

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