title: Loss of heterozygosity and microsatellite instability of the h-ras gene in cancer of the head and neck.
abstract: H-ras oncogene is involved in a wide range of human tumours. Its involvement in head and neck cancer has been demonstrated at the level of overexpression whereas ras mutations in these cancers are rare in the Western world. In this study we explored the incidence of the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsateliite instability (MI) of a hexanucleotide repeat located in intron 1 of the H-ras gene, in 33 carcinomas of the head and neck. Five of the 33 (15%) SCCHN exhibited instability of the hexanucleotide repeat and 4 of the 16 (25%) informative specimens demonstrated LOH in the H-ras locus. An association was found between LOH in the H-ras locus and lymph node metastasis. These results indicate genomic instability and LOH in the H-ras gene in head and neck cancer, providing further evidence for the involvment of the H-ras gene in this disease.
authors.affiliation: UNIV LIVERPOOL,DEPT CLIN DENT SCI,MOLEC ONCOL GRP,LIVERPOOL L69 3BX,ENGLAND. UNIV LIVERPOOL,DEPT OTORHINOLARYNGOL,LIVERPOOL L69 3BX,ENGLAND. UNIV CRETE,SCH MED,IRAKLION,GREECE. NATL HELLEN RES FDN,GR-11635 ATHENS,GREECE.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kiaris
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Field