High EPHB2 mutation rate in gastric but not endometrial tumors with microsatellite instability.

The EPH/EFN family of receptor tyrosine kinases regulates cell adhesion and migration and has an important role in controlling cell positioning in the normal intestinal epithelium. Inactivation of EPHB2 has recently been shown to accelerate tumorigenesis in the colon and rectum, and we have previously demonstrated frequent frameshift mutations (41%) in an A9 coding microsatellite repeat in exon 17 of EPHB2 in colorectal tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI). In this study, we extended these analyses to extracolonic MSI cancers, and found frameshift EPHB2 mutations in 39% (25/64) of gastric tumors and 14% (8/56) of endometrial tumors. Regression analysis of these EPHB2 mutation data on the basis of our previously proposed statistical model identified EPHB2 as a selective target of frameshift mutations in MSI gastric cancers but not in MSI endometrial carcinomas. These results suggest a functional role for EPHB2 in gastric tumor progression, and emphasize the differences between the tumorigenic processes in MSI gastrointestinal and endometrial cancer.

Combined molecular and clinical approaches for the identification of families with familial adenomatous polyposis coli.

OBJECTIVE: Using an interdisciplinary clinical and molecular approach, the authors identified APC germline mutations in families with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Correlation of mutation site with disease manifestation and the impact of molecular data on clinical proceedings were examined. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Germline mutations in the APC gene predispose to FAP. Established and proposed genotype-phenotype correlations as well as the influence of mutation site on surgical procedures have been reported. The predictive value of APC mutation analysis for disease manifestation and therapeutic decision making needs to be investigated further. METHODS: One hundred twenty-three kindreds of the local FAP registry were included in this study. CHRPE phenotype was defined as at least one large characteristic lesion or a total of four lesions in both eyes. APC mutations were identified by protein truncation test and automated DNA sequencing from patient lymphocyte DNA and RNA. RESULTS: APC germline mutations were identified in 85/123 families with FAP. They were located between codons 213 and 1581 of the APC gene and displayed distinct genotype-phenotype correlations. CHRPE status facilitated mutation analysis by discriminating regions of interest within the APC coding region. Severe manifestations of desmoids were restricted to mutations between codons 1444 through 1581. Whereas 91% (75/82) of at-risk persons were excluded as mutation carriers, APC germline mutations were detected before clinical examination in 9% (7/82) of at-risk persons. One patient agreed to endoscopy only after mutation detection. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the feasibility of combined molecular and clinical screening of families with FAP and may provide a guideline for routine presymptomatic molecular diagnostics in a clinical laboratory.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2-associated RET proto-oncogene mutations do not contribute to the pathogenesis of sporadic parathyroid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid disease occurs sporadically or as part of hereditary multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible role of the RET proto-oncogene not only in hereditary MEN 2-associated hyperparathyroidism but also in different forms of sporadic hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: We investigated 22 patients with parathyroid disease whose family history and results of laboratory and clinical examinations excluded MEN 2 syndrome. DNA extractions of histologically confirmed tumor tissue of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (n = 18), renal hyperparathyroidism (n = 2), and parathyroid carcinoma (n = 2) were performed. Using solid phase DNA sequencing, mutation analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplified products focused on exons 10, 11, and 16 of the RET proto-oncogene. Parathyroid tissue from four patients with known MEN 2A served as positive controls. RESULTS: No mutations of the codons 609, 611, 618, 620, 634, and 918 were found in the sporadic parathyroid tumors analyzed. DNA sequencing revealed heterozygous mutations in codon 634 of the RET proto-oncogene in four parathyroid glands from four patients with MEN 2A. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations of the RET proto-oncogene contributing to MEN 2 syndromes are absent in sporadic parathyroid tumors. Our data in conjunction with the literature suggest at least three different modes of tumorigenesis in parathyroid disease.

Detection of cytosine deaminase in genetically modified tumor cells by specific antibodies.

Bacterial cytosine deaminase (CD) converts the non-toxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) into 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which is toxic for mammalian cells. Therefore, the CD gene is used in cancer gene therapy to achieve high local concentration of a toxic metabolite without significant systemic toxicity. To allow the detection of CD expression at the protein level, we raised both polyclonal rabbit antisera and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a histidine-tagged CD fusion protein. The specificity of the polyclonal antisera and the mAb was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, immunoblot analysis, and immunoprecipitation using CD-expressing tumor cell lines. Furthermore, the antibodies can be used for ELISA assays and flow cytometry. Finally, the CD protein could be demonstrated in frozen tissue sections of CD-modified tumors in a rat tumor model using the anti-CD serum. With these antibodies, CD expression can now be monitored throughout in vitro and in vivo gene transfer studies, including clinical protocols relying on the CD suicide gene strategy.

Cytosine deaminase gene as a potential tool for the genetic therapy of colorectal cancer.

The bacterial enzyme cytosine deaminase (CD) catalyzes the conversion of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to the lethal 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and so provides a useful system for selective killing of gene-modified mammalian tumor cells. Cloning of the CD gene from Escherichia coli and expression in human tumor cell lines enabled these cells to convert 3H-labeled 5-FC into 3H-5-FU. Two CD-expressing human tumor cell lines (adenocarcinoma cell line KM12 and glioblastoma cell line T1115) became 200-fold more sensitive to 5-FC than the nonexpressing parental cell lines. At least 90% of the cells are killed within 7 days. CD-expressing cells are able to kill nonexpressing cells when grown in the same culture flask (bystander effect). The CD gene may be used as a suicide system for in situ chemotherapy or as a safety mechanism abrogating the expression of other genes.

High frequency of retinoic acid receptor beta abnormalities in human lung cancer.

One of the three human retinoic acid receptors, RAR-beta, maps to a region on the short arm of chromosome 3 frequently deleted in lung cancer. Because retinoic acid is required for normal epithelial cell growth and regulation, and loss of a retinoic acid receptor might be expected to contribute to oncogenesis, we examined RAR-beta RNA and DNA in normal lung, 33 lung cancer cell lines and nine primary lung tumors. Normally, RAR-beta is expressed as two transcripts, of sizes 3.1 kb and 2.8 kb, which are strongly induced by retinoic acid. At least 50% of the cell lines and 30% of the tumor samples show altered RAR-beta expression and/or inducibility, including examples of absence or specific loss of one of the RAR-beta transcripts. Abnormalities in the expression patterns of RAR-alpha and RAR-gamma also are found, but at a lower frequency than RAR-beta abnormalities. Southern analysis reveals alteration of the RAR-beta gene in three of the cell lines. Our data suggest that abnormalities in structure and expression of the RAR-beta gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.

The Tsr chemosensory transducer of Escherichia coli assembles into the cytoplasmic membrane via a SecA-dependent process.

The Tsr protein of Escherichia coli is a chemosensory transducer that mediates taxis toward serine and away from certain repellents. Like other bacterial transducers, Tsr spans the cytoplasmic membrane twice, forming a periplasmic domain of about 150 amino acids and a cytoplasmic domain of about 300 amino acids. The 32 N-terminal amino acids of Tsr resemble the consensus signal sequence of secreted proteins, but they are not removed from the mature protein. To investigate the function of this N-terminal sequence in the assembly process, we isolated translational fusions between tsr and the phoA and lacZ genes, which code for the periplasmic enzyme alkaline phosphatase and the cytoplasmic enzyme beta-galactosidase, respectively. All tsr-phoA fusions isolated code for proteins whose fusion joints are within the periplasmic loop of Tsr, and all of these hybrid proteins have high alkaline phosphatase activity. The most N-terminal fusion joint is at amino acid 19 of Tsr. Tsr-lacZ fusions were found throughout the tsr gene. The beta-galactosidase activity of the LacZ-fusion proteins varies greatly, depending on the location of the fusion joint. Fusions with low activity have fusion joints within the periplasmic loop of Tsr. The expression of these fusions is most likely reduced at the level of translation. In addition, one of these fusions markedly reduces the export and processing of the periplasmic maltose-binding protein and the outer membrane protein OmpA, but not of intact PhoA or of the outer membrane protein LamB. A temperature-sensitive secA mutation, causing defective protein secretion, stops expression of new alkaline phosphatase activity coded by a tsr-phoA fusion upon shifting to the nonpermissive temperature. The same secA mutation, even at the permissive temperature, increases the activity and the level of expression of LacZ fused to the periplasmic loop of Tsr relative to a secA+ strain. We conclude that the assembly of Tsr into the cytoplasmic membrane is mediated by the machinery responsible for the secretion of a subset of periplasmic and outer membrane proteins. Moreover, assembly of the Tsr protein seems to be closely coupled to its synthesis.