Chromosome 19 Translocation, Overexpression of Notch3, and Human Lung Cancer

Abstract

Somatically acquired chromosome translocations are the major mechanism for gene activation in hematologic malignancies, but they have not been described previously in the more common epithelial tumors, such as lung cancers. Furthermore, lung carcinomas often exhibit complex karyotypes, and this complexity has been assumed to imply a lack of specificity. Indeed, chromosomal deletions associated with mutations in tumor suppressor genes, or gene amplifications of dominant oncogenes, are well-known genetic abnormalities in these tumors (1).