title: K-ras expression--marker of dysplasia and cancer.
abstract: Molecular and epidemiological data indicated that the presence of HPV virus is not sufficient to induce transformation, suggesting the implication of other several cellular factors. Constitutive activation of the Ras signaling pathway is an important component of malignant progression for a number of different cancers. In this context, the objectives of our study were: the quantitative assessment of the K-ras gene expression changes in the development of the HPV positive cervical cancers. We observed that the K-ras mRNA expression levels did not gradually increase with the severity of injury. The mRNA expression in the ASCUS increased 2.02 times as compared with the control group, while in LSIL group only 1.76 times. However ras expression was increased in the HSIL/cancer group by 2.27 times when was reported to the control group. The presence of low risk HPV infection (IrHPV) does not lead to increased ras expression, remaining at baseline, but K-ras expression was increased in the presence of high risk HPV infection (hrHPV). In addition, we noted that in hrHPV single infections ras expression is increased (0.96 +/- 0.48) comparing with hrHPV co-infections. Our findings indicate that high expression of ras among hrHPV infection can be a marker of cervical cancer development.
authors.affiliation: Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology, 285, Mihai Bravu Ave., 030304, Bucharest, Romania. cbleotu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Coralia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bleotu
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pleşa
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Botezatu
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goia
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Drăguţel
authors.forename: Demetra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Socolov
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corniţescu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teleman
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000472:pathogenicity; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins