Altered expression of Bcl-2, c-Myc, H-Ras, K-Ras, and N-Ras does not influence the course of mycosis fungoides

INTRODUCTION: Data about genetic alterations in mycosis fungoides (MF) are limited and their significance not fully elucidated. The aim of the study was to explore the expression of various oncogenes in MF and to assess their influence on the disease course. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Skin biopsies from 27 MF patients (14 with early MF and 13 with advanced disease) and 8 healthy volunteers were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect Bcl-2, c-Myc, H-Ras, K-Ras and N-Ras expression. All PCR reactions were performed using an Applied Biosystems 7900HT Fast Real-Time PCR System and interpreted using Sequence Detection Systems software which utilizes the comparative delta Ct method. The level of mRNA was normalized to GAPDH expression. All data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: All evaluated oncogenes were found to be expressed in the skin from healthy controls and MF patients. Bcl-2 (–4.2 ±2.2 vs. –2.2 ±1.1; p = 0.01), H-Ras (–3.0 ±3.3 vs. 0.6 ±2.6; p = 0.01) and N-Ras (–3.6 ±2.0 vs. –1.1 ±2.4; p = 0.03) were expressed at significantly lower levels in MF. No relationships between oncogene expression and disease stage, presence of distant metastases and survival were observed (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: The pathogenic role and prognostic significance of analyzed oncogenes in MF seem to be limited and further studies are needed to establish better prognostic factors for patients suffering from MF.