Identification of PTEN mutations in metastatic melanoma specimens.
BACKGROUND
PTEN, a tumour suppressor gene located on chromosome 10q23, develops somatic mutations in various tumours and tumour cell lines including brain, endometrium, prostate, breast, kidney, thyroid, liver, and melanoma.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mutational profile of this gene further, as well as its role in tumour progression in melanoma. DESIGN, SETTINGS: We examined 21 metastatic melanoma samples for 10q23 allelic losses and PTEN sequence alterations. Additionally, we screened these samples for mutations in CDKN2A, a gene in which alterations are well documented in primary melanoma as well as in the germline of familial melanoma.


RESULTS
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 10q23 was observed in 33% (7/21) of the samples tested. We identified four sequence alterations in PTEN (19%) and two in CDKN2A (9.5%). Of interest, only one case showed mutations in both genes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data support the notion that PTEN alterations occur in some metastatic melanomas, and that mutation of this gene plays a role in the progression of some forms of melanoma.
Celebi
J T
JT
Department of Dermatology, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY, USA.
Shendrik
I
I
Silvers
D N
DN
Peacocke
M
M
D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10 / Q000235:genetics; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019942:Genes, p16 / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009154:Mutation; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human