Genetic alterations in the coding region of the bak gene in uterine cervical carcinoma.

A significant frequency of mutations (six missense and one silent) was found, for the first time, at the coding region of the bak gene (exons 3, 4 and 6) in 42 carcinomas of the uterine cervix, while no mutations were detected in 32 non-neoplastic cervix tissues. Bak mutations were observed more frequently in the advanced stage and mutated cancer tissues were more resistant to radiotherapy, although trends were not statistically significant because of small sample size.