Changes in P14(ARF) do not playa primary role in human chondrosarcoma tissues

The locus encoding the tumor suppressor p16 has been found to code for a se cond, different protein. This protein, p14(ARF), has been shown to protect p53 from degradation. Like p16, its gene is often altered in different canc ers. In this study, the first unique exon, exon 1 beta, of p14(ARF), has be en studied in 22 chondrosarcoma tissues using polymerase chain reaction, DN A sequencing and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. One chondr osarcoma was found to have exon 1 beta homozygously deleted, but neither mu tations nor methylations were found in any of the chondrosarcomas. This ind icates that genetic changes of p14(ARF) are a rare event in chondrosarcoma. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.