title: Cellular and molecular biology of biliary tract cancers.
abstract: Cancer of the biliary tract has been associated with point mutations of K-ras and beta-catenin proto-oncogenes; alterations of p53, p16, APC, and DPC4 tumor suppressor genes by a combination of chromosomal deletion, mutation, or methylation; and infrequently microsatellite instability. The frequencies of these alterations vary by location and race of the patient, tumor subsite, histology, and associated disease. Advances in the understanding of the genetics of this disease will help in diagnosing biliary tract cancer, screening at-risk patients, and developing therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 85, Houston, TX 77030-4095, USA. arashid@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashid
mesh_terms: D001650:Bile Duct Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor / Q000502:physiology; D019942:Genes, p16; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D000074081:MutS Homolog 3 Protein; D017354:Point Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C078444:MSH3 protein, human; D000074081:MutS Homolog 3 Protein; C497796:SMAD4 protein, human; D051901:Smad4 Protein; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin