Overexpression of cyclin D1 enhances gene amplification.

Defects in cell cycle control and increased genomic instability, including gene amplification, often occur during cancer development. Cyclin D1 plays a pivotal role in G1, and this gene is frequently amplified and overexpressed in several types of human cancer. This study demonstrates that ectopic overexpression of cyclin D1 in a rat liver epithelial cell line markedly increased the yield of cells containing amplified copies of the CAD gene. This effect was associated with a loss of G1-S checkpoint control, although the cyclin D1-overexpressing cells had a normal p53 gene. The capacity of cyclin D1 to enhance gene amplification may contribute to the process of genomic instability during tumor development.

Mutational analysis of the transforming growth factor beta receptor type II gene in human ovarian carcinoma.

In the present study, we evaluated a series of sporadic ovarian carcinomas for mutations within the entire coding region of TbetaR-II. Using reverse transcription-PCR and "Cold" single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis, 6 of 24 samples (25%) were found to contain code-altering mutations in TbetaR-II: (a) four mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions in the highly conserved serine/threonine kinase domain; (b) one mutation resulting in a conservative amino acid change in the transmembrane domain; and (c) a 1-bp insertion in the polyadenylic acid microsatellite region resulting in a reading frameshift. In addition, six cases (25%) exhibited a common bp substitution (C-->T at nucleotide 1322) in both tumor and patient-matched normal tissues. This is the first report of such TbetaR-II mutations in primary human ovarian carcinomas. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a loss of expression of TbetaR-II in 5 of 22 available tumors (23%; 4 of which also had mutations in the coding region) and decreased expression of TbetaR-II in 10 of 22 available tumors (44%; 1 of which had a mutation in the coding region). Thus, the loss or decreased expression of TbetaR-II seems to be a common event in sporadic ovarian carcinomas, and mutational inactivation, due to either frameshift mutations in the polyadenylic acid microsatellite region or point mutations in conserved functional domains, is one mechanism by which this occurs.

Mutations of the K-ras and p53 genes in gastric adenocarcinomas from a high-incidence region around Florence, Italy.

K-ras and p53 gene mutations in intestinal-type gastric carcinomas from a high-incidence area around Florence, Italy, were studied by single strand conformation polymorphism and DNA sequencing analysis. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of K-ras indicated aberrant bands in 13 of 34 cases. Sequencing revealed point mutations in 7 (including two at a previously unreported site in codon 11), a significantly higher frequency than reported in countries other than Japan. No K-ras mutations were identified in stage III tumors. Single-strand conformation polymorphisms in p53 exons 5-8 occurred in 30 of 34 cases, with mutations identifiable by direct sequencing in 65% of the cases. Of these, 91% were base substitutions, a value similar to that usually reported, but the percentage of G:C to A:T transitions (90% in this study, 89% in all published European cases combined) differed significantly from that in Oriental cases (48%). The percentage of A:T to G:C transitions was greater in Oriental (22%) than European cases (2%), as was also true for transversions (30% in Oriental tumors, 9% in European tumors). The frequency of mutations at CpG sites (14%) varied significantly from the 67% in cases from a neighboring region in Italy. Helicobacter pylori infection was established in 19 cases and was somewhat more common in cases lacking a p53 mutation.

Low incidence of point mutations detected in the p53 tumor suppressor gene from chemically induced rat renal mesenchymal tumors.

Previous studies have shown renal mesenchymal tumors (RMTs) induced in rats by a single intrarenal injection of nickel subsulfide and iron are more pleomorphic and metastatically aggressive than RMTs induced by a single ip injection of methyl(methoxymethyl)nitrosamine (DMN-OMe). While both RMT types contain high levels of K-ras activation, the specific mutational spectra within codon 12 of K-ras are quite different. Nickel subsulfide and iron-induced tumors exhibited codon 12 GGT-->GTT transversions exclusively, while DMN-OMe RMTs showed a wide array of codon 12 mutations, as well as mutations within codons 61 and 63 [K. G. Higinbotham, J. M. Rice, B. A. Diwan, K. S. Kasprzak, C. D. Reed, and A. O. Perantoni, Cancer Res., 52: 4747-4751, 1992; K. G. Higinbotham, J. M. Rice, and A. O. Perantoni, Mol. Carcinog., 5: 136-139, 1992]. In an effort to further correlate carcinogen-specific molecular events in renal tumors, we investigated the p53 tumor suppressor gene in RMTs induced by these two carcinogens for the presence of point mutations. The evolutionarily conserved portion of the coding region of the gene, including part of exon 4 through exon 10, was surveyed for point mutations utilizing single-strand conformation polymorphism and chemical cleavage of mismatches analyses. None (0 of 10) of the nickel subsulfide and iron-induced RMTs and only 1 of 10 DMN-OMe-induced tumors that were evaluated contained point mutations within this portion of the p53 gene. Direct sequencing of the one single-strand conformation polymorphism and chemical cleavage of mismatches-"positive" DMN-OMe-induced RMT revealed a GCC-->GTC (Ala-->Val) transition in codon 345 within exon 10. These results suggest that the different tumorigenic phenotypes exhibited by these two RMTs are not the result of specific mutations or patterns of mutations within the portion of the p53 gene examined and that the mutated p53 tumorigenic pathway, whereby p53 plays a major role in many human neoplasms, does not function in RMTs induced by either agent.

Genetic alterations in gastrinomas and nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: an analysis of p16/MTS1 tumor suppressor gene inactivation.

Neoplasms of the endocrine pancreas are extremely rare, and molecular mechanisms influencing their development are poorly understood. Nevertheless, gastrinomas have become a paradigm for the study of hormonally active tumors. In the present study, 12 gastrinoma and nonfunctioning pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor specimens were evaluated for genetic alterations of the p16/MTS1 tumor suppressor gene. DNA extracted from microdissected portions of paraffin-embedded tumor sections were examined for mutations and homozygous deletions using "Cold" single-strand conformation polymorphism and semiquantitative PCR-based analyses, respectively. Samples were also analyzed for the presence of 5' CpG island hypermethylation using methylation-specific PCR. The p16/MTS1 gene was found to be homozygously deleted in 41.7% of tumors and methylated in 58.3%, but no mutations were identified by single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses. Overall, 91.7% of the specimens demonstrated inactivating alterations in p16/MTS1. These data suggest that transcriptional silencing of p16/MTS1 is a frequent event in these rare and poorly understood tumors.

Cytochromes P450 are expressed in proliferating cells in Barrett's metaplasia.

The expression of cytochromes P450 (CYP) in Barrett's esophagus and esophageal squamous mucosa was investigated. Esophagectomy specimens from 23 patients were examined for CYP expression of CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C9/10, and CYP2E1 by immunohistochemical analysis, and the expression of CYP1A1, CYP3A4, CYP1B1, CYP2E1, and CYP2C9/10 in these tissues was further confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical analysis of esophageal squamous mucosa (n = 12) showed expression of CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2E1, and CYP2C9/10 proteins, but it was noted that cells within the basal proliferative zone did not express CYPs. Immunohistochemical analysis of Barrett's esophagus (n = 13) showed expression of CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2E1, and CYP2C9/10 that was prominent in the basal glandular regions, which are areas containing a high percentage of actively proliferating cells. Immunohistochemical staining for both proliferating cell nuclear antigen and the CYPs further supported the colocalization of CYP expression to areas of active cell proliferation in Barrett's esophagus, whereas in the esophageal squamous epithelium, CYP expression is limited to cells that are not proliferating. RT-PCR with amplification product sequence analysis confirmed CYP1A1, CYP3A4, CYP1B1, CYP2E1, and CYP2C9/10 mRNA expression in Barrett's esophagus. These data suggest that the potential ability of cells in Barrett's esophagus to both activate carcinogens and proliferate may be important risk factors affecting carcinogenesis in this metaplastic tissue.

Cloning and sequence of a processed p53 pseudogene from rat: a potential source of false 'mutations' in PCR fragments of tumor DNA.

We describe here the nucleotide (nt) sequence of a p53 processed pseudogene (psi-gene) from the normal F344 rat genome. Exon-derived primers were utilized to amplify and clone a 1447-bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product corresponding to the coding regions of exons 2-11 of the functional gene. This psi-gene is a cDNA-like sequence possessing 87% homology with the functional rat p53. We have also partially characterized two additional and distinctly different putative rat p53 psi-genes, focussing on the sequences surrounding the reported rat p53 mutational hot spots of codons 202R and 211R within exon 6/7. Each of these three psi-gene sequences contained various single- and/or double-nt substitutions, small deletions and insertions that distinguish them from p53. One substitution, 211R CGG-->CAG, found both in the cloned psi-gene and in one of the partially characterized, putative psi-genes, corresponded precisely with the sequence that has been reported as a mutation at one of the hot spots. Co-amplification of one or more of the p53 psi-genes with portions of the functional p53 is likely, if exon-based primers are utilized for PCR amplification of rat p53. Consequently, psi-gene sequences are potential sources of sequence variations that can be misidentified as somatic cell mutations by direct sequencing of inappropriately generated PCR products.

Identification and sequencing of the Syrian Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) cDNAs and their homozygous gene deletion in cheek pouch and pancreatic tumor cells.

Previous studies have shown that the p16(INK4a) tumor suppressor gene is inactivated in up to 98% of human pancreatic cancer specimens and 83% of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Inactivation of the related p15(INK4b) gene has also been identified in a number of tumors and cell lines, however, its role as an independent tumor suppressor remains to be elucidated. Chemically-induced tumors in the Syrian Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) have been shown to be excellent representative models for the comparative development and progression of a number of human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of the p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) genes in two experimental hamster models for human pancreatic and oral carcinogenesis. First, hamster p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) cDNAs were cloned and sequenced. The hamster p16(INK4a) cDNA open reading frame (ORF) shares 78%, 80%, and 81% identity with the human, mouse, and rat p16(INK4a) sequences, respectively. Similarly, the hamster p15(INK4b) cDNA ORF shares 82% and 89% sequence identity with human and mouse p15(INK4b), respectively. Second, a deletion analysis of hamster p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) genes was performed for several tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic hamster cell lines and revealed that both p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) were homozygously deleted in a cheek pouch carcinoma cell line (HCPC) and two pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (KL5B, H2T), but not in tissue matched, non-tumorigenic cheek pouch (POT2) or pancreatic (KL5N) cell lines. These data strongly suggest that homozygous deletion of the p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) genes plays a prominent role in hamster pancreatic and oral tumorigenesis, as has been well established in correlative studies in comparable human tumors. Furthermore, this study supports the comparative importance of the hamster pancreatic and cheek pouch models of carcinogenesis in subsequent mechanistic-, therapeutic-, and preventive-based studies aimed at providing important translational data applicable to pancreatic adenocarcinoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma in humans.

Dose response of hepatic and renal DNA synthetic rates to continuous exposure of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) via slow-release pellets or osmotic minipumps in male B6C3F1 mice.

We studied the use of acute and chronic 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) administration for detection of DNA-synthesizing cells in the liver and kidney of B6C3F1 male mice. Six-week-old mice were exposed to BrdU either acutely with a single-pulse (IP) injection 1 hr before sacrifice or chronically with the use of slow-release pellets or osmotic minipumps at one of four BrdU dose rates. Pellets (2.5, 10, 25, and 50 mg) and minipumps (2.5 and 10 mg equivalents) were implanted subcutaneously on the backs of the animals 4 or 7 days before sacrifice). BrdU incorporation into DNA was determined by immunohistochemistry using an anti-BrdU antibody. Mice chronically exposed to BrdU demonstrated increased levels of nuclear labeling compared with those receiving a single-pulse injection. No time-related increases in nuclear labeling were detected in hepatocytes or renal tubule cells of mice exposed to BrdU pellets and in the kidneys of mice receiving BrdU minipumps at the 7-day compared with the 4-day time point. In some cases, the labeling indices at 7 days were significantly decreased compared with those at 4 days. In contrast, a time-related increase in nuclear labeling was seen in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells of mice exposed to BrdU minipumps. Therefore, the method used to administer BrdU chronically to the animal appears to play an important role in presenting the true proliferative scenario in cell kinetic studies. Our findings also provide evidence for an effect of BrdU on normal proliferation rates in these tissues.

Liver tumor promoting ability of corn oil gavage in B6C3F1 male mice.

In chronic carcinogenic bioassays, chemicals being tested with low water solubility have been administered via corn oil gavage. The present study examined the effect of chronic corn oil gavage on hepatic tumor formation in the B6C3F1 male mouse. Mice were initiated with diethylnitrosamine (DENA) either at 15 days of age with a single i.p. injection (5 micrograms/gbw) (protocol 1) or at 4 weeks of age via the drinking water (15 mg/l) for a duration of 3 weeks (protocol 2). At weaning (protocol 1) or 8 weeks of age (protocol 2) initiated and untreated mice were administered either corn oil at a dose of 0.15 ml via gavage (once a day, 5 days/wk) or saline (0.15 ml via gavage, once a day 5 days/wk). All mice were killed at 28 weeks of age and hepatic lesions were quantitated. Only mice exposed to DENA demonstrated hepatic tumors. Mice treated with DENA (at 15 days of age) and corn oil gavage exhibited a significant decrease in the number of hepatic adenomas compared with DENA (at 15 days of age) only treated mice. No difference was noted in the number of hepatic adenomas between mice treated with DENA (at 4 wks of age) and corn oil gavage and mice exposed to DENA (at 4 wks of age) only.

Effect of phenobarbital on diethylnitrosamine and dimethylnitrosamine induced hepatocellular tumors in male B6C3F1 mice.

The effect of the type of carcinogen initiator on the ability of phenobarbital (PB) to promote hepatic tumor formation in 15-day-old initiated male B6C3F1 mice was evaluated. Fifteen-day-old male B6C3F1 mice were divided into 6 groups of 10 mice each. Groups 1 and 2 received a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) (5 micrograms/body wt). Groups 3 and 4 received a single i.p. injection of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) (5 micrograms/g body wt). Groups 3 and 4 received a single i.p. injection of dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) (5 micrograms/g body wt). Groups 5 and 6 received a single i.p. injection of saline. At weaning (28 days of age), mice in groups 2, 4 and 6 received PB (500 mg/ml) in their drinking water. Mice in groups 1, 3 and 5 received deionized drinking water. Drinking water treatment continued for 24 weeks at which time mice were sampled. At sampling, mice were examined for hepatic tumors by histology. Mice in groups 5 (no treatment) and 6 (PB only) did not exhibit hepatic tumors. Groups 2 (DENA + PB) displayed a decrease in hepatic adenomas from that of group 1 (DENA only), confirming previous observations. Treatment with DMNA and PB (group 4), however, resulted in a significant increase in both hepatic adenoma incidence and number over that of DMNA only (group 3) treated mice. The promoted adenomas appeared to be predominantly eosinophilic in appearance. The type of initiator therefore appears important in determining if 15-day-old initiated male B6C3F1 mice respond to the promotion effects of PB.

Lack of p53 point mutations in chemically induced mouse hepatoblastomas: an end-stage, highly malignant hepatocellular tumor.

Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor gene appears to be an important event in the progression of many types of human neoplasms; however its role in rodent experimental tumorigenesis is controversial. Previous studies have shown that a wide array of chemically induced and spontaneous mouse liver tumors lack p53 mutations within the evolutionarily conserved regions of exons 5-8. However, since p53 inactivation in human neoplasms occurs relatively late in tumor progression, it is possible that the mouse liver tumors evaluated previously were not suitably advanced to incur p53 aberrations. In the present study, we examined an end-stage, highly malignant embryonal mouse liver tumor known as the hepatoblastoma (HB) for p53 mutations utilizing the highly sensitive 'cold' single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) technique. In addition, several of the HBs were examined by direct nucleotide sequencing. No aberrations of the p53 gene were detected within exons 5-8 of any of the 16 HBs examined. These results confirm that the p53 gene plays a minimal role in the development or malignant progression of hepatocellular tumors in mice.

Comparison of the effects of acute and subacute treatment of phenobarbital in different strains of mice.

A strain specificity has been demonstrated for the effect of subsequent administration of phenobarbital (PB), in which diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-initiated hepatocarcinogenesis was promoted in C3H mice, inhibited in B6C3F1 (C57BL x C3H) and not affected in C57BL mice. A correlation has been established between the ability of barbiturates and hydantoins to promote tumor formation and their ability to induce liver growth, hepatic DNA synthesis and mixed function oxidase activities. Therefore, we examined in these 3 strains of mice and in C3B6F1 (C3H x C57BL) mice the effect of PB administered in their drinking water for 4 days or 28 days. The liver weight to body weight ratio was increased by PB in all types of mice. Microsomal protein concentrations were increased in C57BL mice after 28 days of treatment, in C3H after both 4 days and 28 days and in B6C3F1 after 4 days of treatment. No effect upon microsomal protein content was observed in C3B6F1 mice. DNA content was increased in C3H mice, both in the 4-day and 28-day treatment groups, while the other strains showed either a decrease or no difference from control. DNA synthesis was elevated in all strains of mice after 4 days of treatment with PB, however, after 28 days of treatment there was either a much reduced increase (C57BL and C3B6F1) or no difference (C3H and B6C3F1) from controls. In all 4 types of mice after 4 and 28 days of treatment, PB increased the concentration of cytochrome P-450, the activity of aminopyrine-N-demethylase (AmDm) and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (ErDe) and the oxidation of testosterone (T). The oxidative metabolites of T were similar in the 4 types of mice.

Cell proliferation not associated with carcinogenesis in rodents and humans.

Cell proliferation has often been found to be associated with carcinogenesis in rodents and humans at different stages of the multistage carcinogenesis process. The multistage process includes initiation, promotion, and progression phases. At each phase, increasing the normal level of cell turnover of target cells may enhance carcinogenesis. However, we present evidence that normal levels of cell turnover, or increasing the rate of cell turnover at these different stages, do not necessarily lead to enhanced carcinogenesis. In normal tissues, the length of the cell cycle depends on the age of the host and varies from tissue to tissue. Tissues with normal short cell cycles, such as intestine and bone marrow, do not show a high rate of spontaneous tumors in most species. Cells with higher turnover should be more susceptible to carcinogens at the initiation stage of carcinogenesis if cell proliferation per se causes cancer and if these cells or their progeny survive. Cancer in humans is more often associated with specific etiological factors rather than with the natural proliferative rate of specific tissues. For many tissues of humans and rodents, age-related diseases develop in a progressive, irreversible manner. Often, naturally occurring chronic degenerative and inflammatory changes in a tissue (e.g., kidney, liver, heart, reproductive tract) lead to chronic regeneration of the damaged tissue. Yet, cancer is rarely found in these tissues. In rodent carcinogenesis experiments, chronic toxic lesions, accompanied by increases in normal levels of cell turnover, have sometimes been observed in target organs of nongenotoxic carcinogens. More often, however, organ-specific nongenotoxic toxins are not carcinogens. These toxins include compounds toxic for the liver, kidney, and nasal cavity. In 19 inhalation bioassays conducted by the National Toxicology Program, 5/5 nasal carcinogens and 12/14 nasal noncarcinogens caused nasal lesions usually associated with chronic cell proliferation. Although cell proliferation may contribute to multistage carcinogenesis, cell proliferation is not necessarily a tumor promoter or cocarcinogen.

Mutational status of overexpressed p16 in head and neck cancer: evidence for germline mutation of p16/p14ARF.

Inactivation of the p16 tumor suppressor gene is a common phenomenon in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Less commonly described is the observation of p16 overexpression in SCCHN. Since overexpression of p16 is a potent predictor of outcome in other cancers, we were interested in determining the level of expression of p16 in our SCCHN specimens as a prerequisite to later prognostic studies. We were also interested in determining the mutational status of p16 in these tumors, in order to determine whether the combination of overexpression and gene alteration may predict a different clinical outcome from overexpression alone. A total of 84 specimens of SCCHN were selected for study. These specimens were obtained from all major sites within the oral cavity, oropharynx, pharynx and larynx. The level of expression of p16 in SCCHN specimens was measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In 35 cases, RNA was also isolated from matched normal tissue obtained from a negative tumor margin. In the other 49 cases, the expression level was compared with the level of expression measured in pooled normal RNA obtained from 10 specimens of normal epithelial tissue. Overexpression of p16 was documented when the level of expression in the tumor specimen was 2-fold or greater above the level of expression found in normal tissue. A total of 46 specimens demonstrated overexpression of p16 (55%). All specimens demonstrating overexpression were then subject to sequence analysis. Thirty specimens (65%) showed p16-specific gene alterations, ranging from intragenic deletions to single point mutations, and 15 of these cases concomitantly affect p14ARF. A single specimen demonstrated a silent point mutation within the p16 reading frame. This mutation produces a stop codon at residue 85 in the context of the p14ARF reading frame, predicting premature termination of p14ARF within a previously determined nucleolar localization signal. This observation suggests that in some cases at least, p14ARF may be a selective target for alteration, independently of p16. Analysis of a normal tissue specimen obtained from a negative tumor margin, and a blood sample obtained approximately five years after surgery indicate that this p14ARF-specific alteration may represent a germline mutation.

Molecular characterization of mutations in the hprt gene of normal human skin keratinocytes treated with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea: influence of O6-alkylguanine alkyltransferase.

O6-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) is responsible for repairing the O6-alkylguanine lesion in DNA. There is wide variation in the levels of AGT between organ and cell types, which appears to correlate with cell and tissue type sensitivity to the mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of alkylating agents. In order to investigate the role of AGT in modulating the frequency and types of mutations induced in one type of normal human parenchymal cells, we examined the types and frequency of mutations in the hypoxanthine (guanine) phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt gene in 116 mutants derived from two N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-treated normal human skin keratinocyte cell lines. O6-Benzylguanine (O6-BZ; 5 microM x 2 hours) was used to specifically inhibit AGT activity before ENU treatment (0 to 5 mM x 1 hour). O6-BZ increased both the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of ENU by 1.8- and 3- to 5-fold, respectively. In both treatment groups, most of the mutations were base substitutions (72%). The proportion of GC to AT transitions in the O6-BZ group (14/31) was twice that in the group treated with ENU alone, consistent with the loss of AGT activity in these cells. There was no strand specificity of GC to AT and AT to GC transitions in both groups. Base transversions accounted for 28% of total base substitutions. A lower than expected proportion of AT to TA transversions were observed in both cell lines, which decreased in the O6-BZ pretreated group. A strand bias was observed for GC to TA and AT to TA transversions. Most of the G to A and G to T base substitutions had one or more purines flanking 3' to the mutated deoxyguanosines. There were more deletion mutants with the deletion of exon 1, 4, 6, and 8 in the BZ group than in the control group. These data, characterizing the mutational spectra of ENU in normal human keratinocytes treated in vitro, indicate that GC to AT and AT to GC transition mutations predominate in these cells depleted or not depleted of AGT.

Genetic alterations in the transforming growth factor receptor complex in sporadic endometrial carcinoma.

Cellular responses to the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) ligand, including inhibition of cell proliferation, are mediated by a heteromeric receptor complex composed of TGFbeta types I and II receptors (TbetaR-I and TbetaR-II). Loss of responsiveness to TGFbeta, attributed to inactivation of the TbetaR complex, has been implicated in the development of tumors in a number of human epithelial and lymphoid tissues. To gain a better understanding of TGFbeta signal transduction pathways in endometrial carcinogenesis, we have investigated the role of the TbetaR complex by evaluating the TbetaR-I and TbetaR-II genes for mutations throughout the entire coding region in human sporadic endometrial tumors. Using reverse transcription-PCR, "Cold" single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, and direct DNA sequencing, it was found that 1 of 39 (2.6%) and 7 of 42 samples (17%) contained code-altering changes in the kinase domain of TbetaR-I and TbetaR-II, respectively. In 7betaR-I, a 3-bp deletion was found resulting in replacement of Arg and Glu at codon 237 and 238 by Lys. With TbetaR-II, mutations were found in the kinase, the extracellular, and the C-terminal domains. No frameshift mutations were detected; however, a silent population polymorphism (AAC-->AAT at codon 389) in TbetaR-II was found in 19 of 42 (44%) tumor samples. These results suggest that alteration in TbetaR-II, but not TbetaR-I, has an important role in the development of endometrial carcinoma.

Responsiveness to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-mediated growth inhibition is a function of membrane-bound TGF-beta type II receptor in human breast cancer cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a potent inhibitor of growth and proliferation of breast epithelial cells, and loss of sensitivity to its effects has been associated with malignant transformation and tumorigenesis. The biological effects of TGF-beta are mediated by the TGF-beta receptor complex, a multimer composed of TGF-beta receptor type I (TbetaR-I) and TGF-beta receptor type II (TbetaR-II) subunits. Evidence suggests that loss of expression of Tbeta3R-II is implicated in the loss of sensitivity of tumorigenic breast cell lines to TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition. A panel of human breast cell lines, including the immortalized MCF-10F and tumorigenic MCF-7, ZR75-1, BT474, T47-D, MDA-MB231, BT20, and SKBR-3 cell lines, was characterized for responsiveness to TGF-beta-induced G1 growth arrest. Only the nontumorigenic MCF-10F and the tumorigenic MDA-MB231 cell lines demonstrated a significant inhibitory response to TGF-beta1 and a significant binding of 125I-labeled TGF-beta ligand. While expression of TbetaR-I mRNA was similar across the panel of cell lines, TbetaR-II mRNA expression was decreased significantly in all seven tumorigenic cell lines in comparison with the nontumorigenic MCF- 10F cell line. When total cellular protein was fractionated by centrifugation, TbetaR-I protein was observed in both the cytosolic and membrane fractions at similar levels in all cell lines; however, TbetaR-II protein was present in the cytosolic fraction in all cell lines, but was observed in the membrane fraction of only the TGF-beta-responsive MCF-10F and MDA-MB231 cells. Thus, lack of membrane-bound TbetaR-II protein appears to be an important determinant of resistance to TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition in this group of breast cell lines.

RET mutation screening in MEN2 patients and discovery of a novel mutation in a sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma.

RET germline mutations were found to predispose to the development of three variants of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, MEN2A, MEN2B, and familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). We have screened for RET mutations at exons 10, 11, 13, and 16 in leukocyte DNA extracted from 37 individuals, and have identified RET germline mutations in 12 affected individuals from 9 unrelated families. No RET germline mutation was found in 19 individuals with apparent sporadic diseases. We have also screened for RET mutations at exons 10, 11, and 16 in tumor DNA extracted from 13 freshly frozen medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC). RET mutation was detected in every tumor, either inherited or sporadic, indicating that RET plays an important role in the development of both inherited and sporadic MTC. We initially screened for RET mutations by direct DNA sequencing of the genomic PCR products amplified from patients' leukocyte or tumor DNA. Recently, we utilized the "Cold SSCP" method, nonradioactive single-stranded conformation polymorphism analysis, to screen for RET mutations and have identified a novel mutation, a 6-bp deletion preceding the cysteine-634, in a sporadic MTC.

Identification of genetic alterations in the TGFbeta type II receptor gene promoter.

Modifications in the control sequences of tumor suppressor genes have been found to play a role in the activation or inactivation of these genes and may play an important role in tumorigenesis. For example, hypermethylation of CpG islands and promoter polymorphisms have been found to be involved in transcriptional repression. A decrease in the levels of expression of one such tumor suppressor gene, the TGFbeta type II receptor (TbetaR-II), has been associated with increased tumorigenicity in a number of human tumors. Genetic alterations have been described in several tumor types in the coding region of this gene. However, no comprehensive search for genetic alterations in the TbetaR-II promoter has been reported. Genetic alterations in the promoter of the TbetaR-II gene could inhibit binding of putative regulatory factors. For example, we have reported a A-364-G alteration in the TbetaR-II promoter, which results in decreased transcriptional activity. In this study, we analyzed the 1.0kb region upstream of the TbetaR-II transcriptional start site and found genetic alterations in 46% of the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) samples examined. The most frequent alteration was a G-875-A alteration, present in 41.6% of the samples. Analysis of normal healthy individuals showed a similar frequency of this alteration, suggesting that alterations within the TbetaR-II promoter are unlikely to account for the decreased expression of TbetaR-II in head and neck SqCC.