title: Genetic alterations of the tumor suppressor gene WWOX in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The WWOX (WW domain containing oxidoreductase) gene was recently identified as a candidate tumor suppressor gene at 16q23.3-24.1, a chromosome region that spans the common fragile site FRA16D. To evaluate the potential role of the WWOX gene in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas, we examined 36 tumors for genetic alterations of the WWOX gene. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the WWOX locus was observed in 14 (39%) tumors. A tumor-specific missense mutation was found in one tumor, and LOH analysis had shown that the other allele was missing. Furthermore, we detected aberrant WWOX gene transcripts with absence of exons 6-8 in two tumors, and complete absence of transcript in one tumor. These results indicate that alteration and inactivation of the WWOX gene may play a role in esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Kimmel Cancer Institute, Thomas Jefferson University, 233 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
authors.forename: Tamotsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroki
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trapasso
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: Hansjuerg
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alder
authors.forename: Koshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mimori
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Carlo M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Croce
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger