Fine mapping of the PTGFR gene to 1p31 region and mutation analysis in human breast cancer

The 1p31 chromosomal region shows loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in up to 50% of human breast cancer, indicating the presence of a tumor suppressor gene at this location. Many efforts have been made to identify candidate genes responsible for breast cancer on the short arm of chromosome 1. It was show n that prostaglandins have been implicated in the tumorigenesis pathway, pe rhaps via interactions with their cell surface receptors. The prostaglandin F2 receptor gene (PTGFR) was tentatively mapped to 1p31 adjacent to the re gion undergoing LOH in human breast cancer. We undertook a mutation study i n 34 sporadic human breast tumors using a variant of SSCP, incorporation PC R SSCP (IPS). Several nucleotide variants were detected in different tumors . Here we report the nature of these nucleotide changes and the possible in volvement of the PTGFR gene in the etiology of human cancer.