Expression of neural BC200 RNA in human tumours

BC200 RNA is a 200‐nucleotide‐long non‐messenger RNA that is selectively expressed in the primate nervous system, where it has been identified in somatodendritic domains of a subset of neurons. BC200 RNA is not normally expressed in non‐neuronal somatic cells; it has been shown, however, to be expressed in germ cells and in cultured immortal cell lines of various non‐neural origins. In order to investigate whether the neuron‐specific expression of BC200 RNA is also deregulated during tumourigenesis in non‐neural human tissues, 80 different tumour specimens, representing 19 different tumour types, were screened for the presence of the RNA. BC200 RNA was expressed in carcinomas of the breast, cervix, oesophagus, lung, ovary, parotid, and tongue, but not in corresponding normal tissues. BC200 RNA was not detectable in bladder, colon, kidney, or liver carcinoma tissues examined in this study. These results demonstrate that BC200 expression is deregulated under certain neoplastic conditions. The expression of BC200 RNA in non‐neural tumours may indicate a functional interrelationship with induction and/or progression of such tumours. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.