Absence of frameshift mutations in the bax gene in renal cell cancer (RCC) and transitional cell cancer (TCC).
BACKGROUND
Bax protein, a member of the Bcl-2 family, regulates the apoptotic pathway that involves both Bcl-2 and p53. bax mutations are found in hematological malignancies, colon cancer with microsatellite mutator phenotype, and some other cancers. We evaluated the possibility that Bax functions as a TCC or RCC tumor suppressor gene.


METHODS
Using Western blot and polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) we looked for somatic mutations in a tract of eight deoxyguanosines (G)8 within third exon of bax in TCC and RCC cell lines and tumor specimens.


RESULTS
We failed to reveal genetic alterations, at least in this specific region of bax gene in urological cancers.


CONCLUSIONS
Alterations of bax, at least at investigated specific region, do not play considerable role in RCC or TCC tumorigenesis.
Department of Urology, Niigata University School of Medicine, Japan. vbilim@med.niigata-u.acjp
V N
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Bilim
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Kawasaki
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K
Takahashi
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Tomita
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002460:Cell Line; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D016368:Frameshift Mutation; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494826:BAX protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein