Analysis of mRNA Using the in Situ Hybridization Technique: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Application of the in Situ Hybridization Technique

We used the histo in situ hybridization (HISH) technique to study the relationship between oncogene mRNA expression and survival rate and the pathological factors in gastric cancers. In excised specimens the prognosis was poor in cases those had moderate or marked c-Ha-ras mRNA expression. The degree of expression was mutually related to the degree of lymphnode metastasis. In biopsy specimens, the prognosis in the cases that expressed c-myc mRNA was also extremely poor, the 2-year survival rate being only 38.9%. The investigation of pathological factors suggested that the expression of oncogene mRNA may be a new moleculo-pathological factor in gastric cancer and an indicator of malignant potency. It appears that the pre-operative detection of oncogene mRNA in biopsy specimens can be utilized to diagnose and treat gastric cancer.