The S387Y mutation of the transforming growth factor-beta receptor type I gene is uncommon in metastases of breast cancer and other common types of adenocarcinoma

Recently, mutations of the transforming growth factor-beta receptor type I gene have been reported to occur at high frequency in breast cancer metasta ses, with all mutations being an identical C to A transversion at nucleotid e 1160 of the gene (T, Chen et at, Cancer Res., 58: 4805-4810, 1998), This mutation would result in a serine to tyrosine substitution at codon 387 (S3 87Y) and would reportedly disrupt receptor function. Because this mutation reportedly occurred at high frequency in breast cancer metastases (42%) and much less frequently in primary breast cancer tumors (6%), this would seem to represent a pivotal genetic alteration in breast cancer progression. To further investigate the possible role of this specific genetic alteration in the progression of breast cancer and other forms of adenocarcinoma, we a nalyzed 20 breast cancer metastases, 15 Lung adenocarcinoma metastases, and 13 colorectal cancer metastases for possible mutations at this site. Using both single-strand conformation polymorphism screening and sequencing, we found no mutations of this gene in any of our samples, Our results suggest the S387Y mutation of the transforming growth factor-beta receptor type I g ene is not common in these types of human cancers.