Previous epidemiological studies have shown association between coal burning and human lung cancer. To confirm relationship between coal burning and lung cancer formation and progression the expression of p53 and c-myc in 13 mouse lung cancer induced by coal burning smoke and 5 mouse lung tissue control was studied by DNA-RNA in situ hybridization (ISH). Nine of 13 specimens showed c-myc overexpression but it occurred only 1 of adjacent tissue. There was over pression of p53 mRNA in all 13 lung cancer and 5 adjacent tissue. None in the controls was expression of p53 and c-myc detected. When compared to controls, there was significant higher expression of c-myc gene (P=0.002) and p53 geuc (P=0.0001).



The results confirm that overexpression of p53 and c-myc are common molecular events of lung cancer by coal burning smoke and provide further evidence that smoke from coal burning is a causative agent of lung cancer.