FHIT alterations in cancerous and non-cancerous cervical epithelium.
We have reported a significant frequency of an alteration of the fragile histidine triad (fhit) gene in squamous-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (series 1). To further define the role of fhit alteration in the development of cervical carcinoma, we surveyed 36 normal cervical epithelium, 22 cervical intra-epithelial neoplasias (CINs) and 20 additional cases of invasive cervical carcinomas (series 2). fhit transcripts were analyzed using reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction amplification and sequencing. Loss of expression of fhit was observed in 14 of 48 (29%) invasive carcinomas (8/28, series 1; 6/20, series 2) but not in any normal squamous epithelia or CINs analyzed. Abnormal fhit transcripts, including deletions and/or insertions, were observed in 12 of 48 (25%) invasive carcinomas (9/28, series 1; 3/20, series 2), 6 of 22 (27%) CINs, and 10 of 40 (25%) normal squamous epithelia (0/4, series 1; 10/36, series 2). Point mutation was detected in 9 of 48 (19%) cervical carcinomas (8/28, series 1; 1/20, series 2). Inactivation in both alleles was observed in 18 of 48 cervical carcinomas (38%), but not in any of 22 CINs or 40 normal squamous epithelia. Loss or impaired expression of the fhit-gene product was detected in 13 of 30 (43%) cervical carcinomas by immunohistochemistry, whereas all 6 normal cervical epithelia, or 22 CINs, expressed fhit protein. There was a strong association of impaired fhit protein expression with the disruption of normal fhit transcript in cervical carcinoma. No apparent correlation was observed between fhit inactivation and HPV infection. Our results suggest that fhit-gene inactivation occurs, not as an initiating event, but rather as a later event in cervical carcinogenesis, when the cervical tumor has acquired an invasive character.
Yoshino
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Enomoto
T
T
Nakamura
T
T
Sun
H
H
Ozaki
K
K
Nakashima
R
R
Wada
H
H
Saitoh
J
J
Watanabe
Y
Y
Noda
K
K
Murata
Y
Y
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D017354:Point Mutation; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase
D017766:Acid Anhydride Hydrolases; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099170:Bis(5'-adenosyl)triphosphatase