Accumulation of beta-catenin protein and mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin gene in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor.
The molecular basis of carcinogenesis in gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors is not well understood. To clarify the contribution of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling to this type of carcinogenesis, we investigated 72 cases of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor both immunohistochemically and by direct sequencing of beta-catenin. Accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytoplasm and/or nucleus was observed in 57 cases (79.2%). We also detected mutations in exon 3 of beta-catenin in 27 cases (37.5%) and one mutation in APC (1.4%). Our results suggest that alterations in the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway may be involved in the development of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Fujimori
M
M
Second Department of Surgery, Hiroshima University Faculty of Medicine, Hiroshima, Japan 734-8551.
Ikeda
S
S
Shimizu
Y
Y
Okajima
M
M
Asahara
T
T
D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017491:Genes, APC / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin