title: Genetic status of cell cycle regulators in squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus: the CDKN2A (p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) ) and p53 genes are major targets for inactivation.
abstract: We determined inactivation of the CDKN2A (p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF)) gene in 21 cases of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The tumours were also analysed for mutations in exons 5-8 and allelic losses in the p53 gene. In addition, we screened the CDKN2B (p15 INK4b), CDKN2C (p18 INK4c), CDK4 and p53R2 genes for mutations in the tumour tissues. Besides concomitant alterations in the CDKN2A and p53 loci in more than half of the cases, our results showed that in 18 OSCC (86%) the CDKN2A (p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) ) gene was affected through mutations, homozygous/hemizygous deletions and promoter hypermethylation. Eight out of 10 tumours with mutations or promoter hypermethylation specific to the CDKN2A/p16 INK4a gene showed loss of the wild-type allele. One tumour with a single base deletion in the N-terminus (codon 8) of the CDKN2A/p16(INK4a) gene carried a novel germ-line mutation or a rare polymorphism (Ile51Met) in exon 2 of the CDK4 gene. Promoter hypermethylation in the CDKN2A/p14 ARF gene was detected in 11 tumours. In the p53 gene 15 mutations were detected in 14 tumours. We detected an inverse relationship between CDKN2A/p16 INK4a inactivation and frequency of loss of heterozygosity at the p53 locus (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.98; Fisher exact test, P-value approximately 0.03). Screening of nine exons of the p53R2 [Human Genome Organisation (HUGO) official name RRM2B] gene resulted in identification of a novel polymorphism in the 5' untranslated region, which was detected in four cases. Our results suggest that the CDKN2A (p16(INK4a) and p14(ARF) ) and p53 genes involved in the two cell cycle pathways are major and independent targets of inactivation in OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Karolinska Institute, Novum, 141 57 Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smeds
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berggren
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hemminki
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D002453:Cell Cycle; D003062:Codon; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005091:Exons; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016158:Genes, p53; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008875:Middle Aged; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013447:Sulfites / Q000494:pharmacology; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D003062:Codon; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D013447:Sulfites; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53