Fig. 3: Correlation between MYC and MYCN expression at mRNA by RT-qPCR and protein level by IHC.
From: Molecular switch from MYC to MYCN expression in MYC protein negative Burkitt lymphoma cases
An almost mutual exclusivity between MYC and MYCN was identified at mRNA and protein level. Specifically, MYCN transcript was clearly detectable almost exclusively in MYC gene/protein-negative cases. a The regression analysis comparing the expression of MYC (x axis) and MYCN (y axis) mRNA identified two different clusters: one consisting of six cases characterized by very low MYC mRNA level and higher MYCN mRNA expression (circle blue); the second contains all the other cases, including the MYC translocation-positive/protein-positive samples and the cases being MYC translocation-positive/protein negative but expressing MYC at mRNA level (circle red). The threshold is represented by black dotted line. b Immunohistochemical evaluation and RNAscope assay for MYCN protein and mRNA expression showed a strong MYCN nuclear staining identified respectively as brown and red nuclear signals, in almost 90% of neoplastic cells only in the six MYCN mRNA positive samples. Probes detecting dapB and PPIB were used as negative and positive controls, respectively.
