Abnormal FHIT gene transcript and c-myc and c-erbB2 amplification in breast cancer.

Searching for ways to improve the characterization of breast cancer we examined the relationship between the status of the FHIT gene transcript and amplification of c-myc and the c-erbB2 oncogene. Abnormal FHIT transcript was detected in 32 of 79 cancers examined. The presence of Fhit protein estimated by Western blots was evident only in cancers exhibiting a normal-sized FHIT transcript.