title: Genetic variability within Adenosine Deaminase gene and uterine leiomyomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The recent observation of an association of colon cancer with two polymorphic sites within the Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) gene suggests an involvement of these polymorphisms in the development of solid tumors. This prompted us to search for a similar association in uterine leiomyomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have studied 181 women admitted to the hospital for leiomyomas requiring surgical intervention and 248 women of comparable age without clinical signs of leiomyomas. All women were from the White population of Rome and gave verbal consent to participate in the study. The genotypes of three polymorphic sites (ADA1, ADA2, ADA6) of ADA gene were determined by DNA analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher proportion of ADA2*1/*1 genotype and of carriers of the ADA6*1 allele was observed in women with leiomyomas as compared to controls. This parallels the association found in colon cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pattern is identical to that previously observed in colon cancer making the possibility of mere sample chance artifact unlikely and supporting the hypothesis that genetic polymorphisms within the ADA gene could be involved in the susceptibility to solid tumors. Genetic variability within the ADA gene may influence adenosine concentration and in turn the immune response by lymphocytes in solid tumors. On the other hand ADA molecules acting as ecto-enzyme may be involved in the transduction of signals in the cell surface with important effects on tumor development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: gloria@med.uniroma2.it.
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gloria-Bottini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saccucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, "P. Colombo" Hospital, Velletri, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammendola
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Egidio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bottini
mesh_terms: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000243:Adenosine Deaminase
keywords: ADA gene; ADA(1); ADA(2); ADA(6); Genetic polymorphism; Leiomyomas