Alterations of K-ras and p53 mutations in colorectal cancer patients in Central Europe

Citation
Ea. Konig et al., Alterations of K-ras and p53 mutations in colorectal cancer patients in Central Europe, J TOX E H A, 62(5), 2001, pp. 333-347
Citations number
39
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology,"Pharmacology & Toxicology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-PART A
ISSN journal
15287394 → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Pages
333 - 347
Database
ISI
SICI code
1528-7394(20010309)62:5<333:AOKAPM>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Many molecular investigations of colorectal cancer (CRC) have suggested tha t the accumulation of specific mutations in proto-oncogenes and tumor suppr essor genes regulating cell growth via signal transduction trigger the stag ewise progression to malignancy. In this study, the frequency, location, an d type of mutations of the K-ras proto-onco gene exon 1 and p53 tumor suppr essor gene exons 5-8 were analyzed in colorectal carcinomas of 65 patients from Central Europe, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-cold single-stra nd conformation polymorphism (SSCP) screening and direct sequencing. The in cidence of K-ras activating mutations in these Central European samples was lower (25%) compared to that obtained in American and western European pop ulations (40-50% at least), while the incidence of p53 inactivating mutatio ns was similar (58%). These results suggest that some other genetically lin ked mechanisms may play a role in CRC development and progression, and henc e K-ras and p53 mutations cannot be considered to be universal genetic mark ers for CRC.