No evidence of correlation between mutation at codon 531 of src and the risk of colon cancer in Chinese

The protein tyrosine kinase activity of c-src proto-oncogene product, pp60( c-src), is elevated in a number of human cancers, including colon cancer. P hosphorylation of human pp60(c-src) carboxy-terminal tyrosine 530 suppresse s its kinase activity. A recent report suggested that the risk of colon can cer is higher for those who carry a C --> T transition mutation on codon 53 1 (Gln-531 --> Amber-531) of src gene. This mutation caused a prematured tr anslation termination and up-regulated the kinase activity. To examine whet her this mutation could be a risk factor for colon carcinoma in the Chinese population, we used the same PCR-based assay to analyze src genotypes of 1 31 colon cancers and other various types of carcinoma. No mutation was dete cted in all specimens that were screened in this study. Thus, mutation at G ln-531 of src gene does not seem to be involved in the development of colon cancer in Chinese ethnicity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All ri ghts reserved.