title: Mutation analysis of key genes in RAS/RAF and PI3K/PTEN pathways in Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The RAS/RAF and PI3K/PTEN signaling pathways play central roles in hepatocarcinogenesis.KRAS,NRAS,HRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA,PIK3R1andPTENare key cancer-related genes in the RAS/RAF and PI3K/PTEN signaling pathways. Genetic alterations in these genes often lead to the dysregulation of the two cascades. Little is known regarding the frequency of hotspot mutations in these critical components among Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, 57 somatic hotspot mutations in 36 HCCs samples collected from Chinese patients using direct DNA sequencing method were examined. Two cases ofKRASsomatic mutations (KRAScodon 61; Gln to His) were identified among 36 HCCs (5.6%). However, no mutations were found in theNRAS,HRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA,PIK3R1andPTENgenes. These findings indicated that point mutations in theKRASgene, but not mutations inNRAS,HRAS,BRAF,PIK3CA,PIK3R1andPTENgenes, at a somatic level contribute to the abnormal activation of the RAS/RAF and PI3K/PTEN pathways in HCC.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China ; Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenmin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China ; Tumor Institute, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu 226000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jibin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Peizhan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Research, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Bang-Ce
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Tumor Institute, Nantong Tumor Hospital, Nantong, Jiangsu 226000, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fulin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qiang
keywords: KRAS; cancer-related genes; hepatocellular carcinoma; mutation analysis