Point mutations and deletions of the Bcl10 gene in solid tumors and malignant lymphomas

The Bcl10 gene, which encodes a protein with proapoptotic activity, recentl y has been identified on chromosome 1p22. In this study, we analyzed somati c mutations and deletions of the Bcl10 gene in a series of 439 tumor tissue s from various histological origins that are known to have frequent loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 1p22. According to the LOH study at intrageni c polymorphic sites, deletion of Bcl10 in informative cases was detected in 50% of malignant mesotheliomas, 33% of gastric carcinomas, 23% of breast c arcinomas, 20% of hepatocellular carcinomas, 17% of lymphomas, 15% of color ectal carcinomas, 13% of laryngeal carcinomas, and 10% of male germ cell tu mors (GCTs). In contrast, we detected Bcl10 mutations in 4 of 120 lymphomas (3.3 %) and 2 of 78 GCTs (2.6%), respectively, but no mutation was found i n the remaining solid tumors analyzed, Taken together, these data imply tha t Bcl10 may occasionally be involved in the pathogenesis of lymphoma and GC Ts, However, the absence or low frequency of the mutation suggests that eit her Bcl10 is inactivated by other mechanisms or it is not the only target o f chromosome 1p22 deletion in human tumors.