This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fishman, W. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fishman, W. H.

Activation of Developmental Genes in Neoplastic Transformation¹

Tufts Cancer Research Center and The Department of Pathology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111

The view is advanced that it is important to fix the stage of development corresponding to the pattern of expression of oncodevelopmental proteins in neoplastic transformation and neoplasia.

From a map of development focused on events beginning with the zygote and ending with the establishment of fetus and placenta, it is possible to explain why certain developmental gene products are restricted to fetus or placenta or distributed in both. It also suggests which products can be expected to be expressed concordantly in neoplastic transformation and in neoplasia.

The case in point is the relationship of chorionic alkaline phosphatase to chorionic gonadotrophin, both being localized to syncitiotrophoblast and expressed in choriocarcinoma. Chorionic alkaline phosphatase, the neoplastic counterpart of which is non-Regan isoenzyme, is defined as the heat-sensitive, L-homoarginine- but not L-phenylalanine-inhibited alkaline phosphatase that has some liver antigenic determinants, and that has a characteristic electrophoretic pattern. This alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme differs markedly from term placental alkaline phosphatase, which is heat stable and L-phenylalanine sensitive, and possesses unique antigenic determinants. Moreover, there exists amnion alkaline phosphatase which is L-phenylalanine sensitive and heat labile and travels to a preliver alkaline phosphatase position on electrophoresis. The expression of term placental, chorionic, and amnionic alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in preneoplastic and neoplastic lung and other cancers is anticipated from a preliminary study of epithelial cell sonic extracts obtained from the tracheobronchial tree of a patient with bronchogenic cancer.

¹ Presented at the Symposium "Cancer and Chemistry" as part of the Fourth Conference on Embryonic and Fetal Antigens in Cancer, November 2 to 5, 1975, Charleston, S. C. This study was supported by Grants-in-Aid CA-12924 and CA-13332 from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, USPHS, Bethesda, Md. The support of the Tobacco Research Council, New York, (Grant 935-M), is gratefully acknowledged.

² Recipient of Cancer Research Award K6-18, 453.