[The intensity of hst-1 gene amplification and malignant potential of esophageal carcinoma in relation to intratumoral heterogeneity].

Amplification of hst-1 gene is associated with poor prognosis in patients with esophageal carcinoma. Since there is a high frequency of DNA stem-line heterogeneity, we studied intratumoral heterogeneity of hst-1 amplification, and evaluated whether or not the intensity of hst-1 amplification is associated with the malignant potential of esophageal carcinoma. A total of 73 patients with esophageal carcinoma who had undergone esophagectomy were studied. Intratumoral heterogeneity of hst-1 amplification was examined in two to four sections of tumour specimens which showed mainly DNA heterogeneity in 27 of these patients. The judgement of hst-1 amplification in the same tumor was identical in all of the 27 patients, although its intensity was not identical in some cases. And in 73 patients, postoperative recurrence in organs showed a high incidence (78%) in the hst-1 amplification group with a high intensity (over 7-fold). Therefore, hst-1 amplification exceeding 7-fold can serve as an indicator to predict the high grade of malignant potential of esophageal carcinoma.