title: Disparate expression of the PTEN gene: a novel finding in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL).
abstract: One fifth of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL) patients exhibit loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 10q23.3, the site of the tumour suppressor PTEN. Microsatellite markers mapped complete LOH to 10q23.3 in 2/41 B-CLL (5%) and allelic imbalances in 6/41 (15%). No PTEN gene mutations were found. PTEN protein expression was not detected in 11 B-CLL (28%), and was reduced in eight patients (20%). LOH or allelic imbalances at 10q23.3 were fairly frequent in B-CLL, but did not encompass the PTEN gene. Nevertheless, PTEN protein may be absent in B-CLL with a normal PTEN genotype, suggesting a role of this phosphatase in the molecular pathology of B-CLL.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology/Haematology, Department of Clinical Research, Inselspital and University of Berne, CH-3010 Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leupin
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cenni
authors.forename: Urban
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Barbary
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hügli
authors.forename: Hans U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Graber
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tobler
authors.forename: Martin F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fey
mesh_terms: D022981:Allelic Imbalance; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C494929:PTEN protein, human