title: Cancer genes alterations and HPV infection in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of cancer genes contributing to oral squamous cell (OSCC) development and progression and correlate genetic changes to clinical parameters. Human papilloma virus (HPV) 16 detection is also included in the study. 60 samples of OSCC were analysed for c-erbB2 and c-myc amplification by dPCR, H-ras and p53 point mutations by PCR/SSCP. HPV was detected via amplification of its E1 and E6 genes. c-erbB2 was altered in 45%, c-myc in 35%, H-ras in 22% and p53 in 60% of samples. HPV was detected in 10% of cases. The frequency of p53 gene mutations showed a statistically significant association with tumour stage. Patients with c-erbB2 and H-ras alterations had lower survival than patients without these alterations. The number of detected genetic changes was remarkable but statistical association with tumour natural history was poor, indicating high clonal heterogeneity and multiple pathways of carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Genetics, School of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. brankapo@verat.net
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jekić
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Novaković
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luković
authors.forename: Vitomir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Konstantinović
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milasin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D018734:Genes, erbB-2 / Q000235:genetics; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D017354:Point Mutation; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D055771:Serbia; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53