Current models for tumorigenesis propose that a series of genetic alterations 'occur during the progression from the normal cell to the malignant phenotype. Expression of three oncogenes(c-myc, c-erb B and c-Ha ras) have been identified in many human neoplasms, in- cluding thyroid nodule. In this study we evaluated expression of oncogenes in benign and malignant thyroid nodules with immunohistochemical staining methods using monoclonal anti- bodies to products of the oncogenes. The rates of expression of c-myc, c-erb B and c-Ha ras oncogenes were 3.6%, 35.7% and 25.0% in benign nodules and 44.4%, 94.4% and 50.0% in carcino- mas. The positive rates of c-myc and c-erb B oncogenes were significantly higher in carcino- mas than in benign nodules. There was positive relationship bwtween the rate of expression of c-myc oncogene and the size of carcinomas. There was no positive relationship bwtween the rates of expression of oncogenes and the status of lymph node metastasis. Results suggest that c-myc anc c-erb B, oncogenes are related to the development and progression of thyroid carci- noma and c-myc oncogene can be used to evaluate prognosis of thyroid cancer patients.
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