Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0027627 (metastases)
 103,950 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We analysed 26 metastases from 25 patients with sporadic cutaneous malignant melanoma for alterations in the CDKN2 gene by a combined polymerase chain reaction/single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR/SSCP)/nucleotide sequencing approach. Eleven alterations (one in exon 1, five in exon 2 and five in the 3' non-coding sequence of the exon 3 region) were concordantly and independently detected by both SSCP and nucleotide sequence analysis. Two of the exon 2 changes and the five changes in the non-coding exon 3 region are likely to represent natural polymorphism. Four (15%) of 26 metastases thus had CDKN2 mutations and belonged to 3 (12%) of 25 patients. Semi-quantitative PCR furthermore revealed no sign of homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 exon 2 region. The results support an involvement of the CDKN2 product in the development of a subgroup of sporadic melanomas and encourage the search for alterations in additional genes of the 9p21 region.
 ...
PMID:Mutational analysis of the CDKN2 gene in metastases from patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma. 856 40

A multistep genetic model of tumorigenesis, based on genetic alterations in benign and primary malignant lesions, has been proposed for neoplasms such as colonic carcinoma. However, evidence for a similar genetic progression in melanoma has relied heavily on findings in cultured lesions or metastases. We have investigated every autosomal arm for loss of heterozygosity in 41 primary cutaneous melanomas and 32 benign melanocytic nevi, and have investigated several chromosome arms that show loss in melanoma in 27 Spitz nevi (a nevus with histological similarities to melanoma). Loss of heterozygosity in primary melanoma was identified most frequently on chromosomes 9p (46%) at loci near the p16INK4 gene, 10q (31%), 6q (31%), and 18q (22%); loss of these chromosome arms were related to the progression of the melanoma. Only two benign melanocytic nevi (both of which showed atypical features on histology) demonstrated genetic alterations, including p9 loss in one case. In addition, two Spitz nevi contained interstitial deletions on chromosome 9p. Our findings show that loss of heterozygosity of 9p is not confined to melanoma, but that other uncultured melanocytic lesions can also display loss of this chromosome arm, and that other genetic changes (e.g., loss of 10q, 6q, and 18q) may be important in conveying the malignant phenotype to melanoma.
 ...
PMID:Allelotypes of primary cutaneous melanoma and benign melanocytic nevi. 856 76

The p16/CDKN2(MTS1) gene encoding for the p16 inhibitor of cyclin D/CDK4 complexes is frequently mutated and deleted in a large fraction of melanoma cell lines, and p16 germline mutations have also been observed in familial melanomas. Moreover, a CDK4 gene mutation, responsible for a functional resistance of CDK4 kinase to p16 inhibitory activity, has been described to occur in some cases of familial melanoma. These data strongly support the idea that deregulation of the CDK4/cyclin D pathway, via CDKN2 or CDK4 mutations, is of biological significance in the development of melanoma. To shed light on the role of these alterations in the development and progression of sporadic melanoma, 12 primary melanomas and 9 corresponding metastases were analyzed for CDKN2 and CDK4 gene mutations. Of the 12 primary melanomas analyzed, 4 showed the presence of mutational inactivation of the p 16 protein and 2 carried silent mutations. No metastases showed the presence of CDKN2 mutations, indicating that mutations of this cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor is not common in the progression of sporadic melanoma. On the other hand, the absence, in the metastases, of the CDKN2 mutation detected in the corresponding primary tumors suggests that 9p21 homozygous deletion may play a major role in the metastatic spreading of this type of tumor. None of the cases analyzed showed the presence of an Arg24Cys mutation, which functionally protects CDK4 from p16 inhibition. This indicates that CDK4 mutation plays a minor role in the development and progression of sporadic melanoma.
 ...
PMID:p16/CDKN2 and CDK4 gene mutations in sporadic melanoma development and progression. 903 65

The three known mechanisms of cellular transformation and oncogenesis include mutations in proto-oncogenes, inactivation of both copies of a tumor suppressor gene, and defects in DNA mismatch repair genes. Examples of each are included to substantiate the importance of understanding these mechanisms. RET is a proto-oncogene that is fundamental to the pathogenesis, and in the current era, molecular diagnosis of MEN 2 syndromes. TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in individuals with Li-Fraumeni syndrome. CDKN2 is a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in pancreatic cancers and is associated with a poorer prognosis and the development of melanoma. MSH2 is a mismatch repair gene that is important in the pathogenesis of HNPCC and Muir-Torre syndrome. Altered gene function such as loss of DCC in colon cancers may affect cell adhesion properties and promote metastases. As we begin to better define and understand the mechanisms of neoplasia, we will be able to improve current diagnosis and treatment.
 ...
PMID:Advances in molecular genetics. 904 82

The tumor suppressor gene CDKN2 (p16/MTS1) resides on chromosome 9p21 and encodes a 16 kDa inhibitor of the cyclin-dependent kinases. Inactivation of CDKN2 by homozygous deletion, point mutation, and recently described aberrant methylation in the 5' promoter region may increase progression through the cell cycle in tumors. In this study, we examine the CDKN2 gene for the presence of inactivating alterations in human prostate cancer. Sequence analysis of cell lines revealed no mutation in LNCaP, PC3, and TSU-PR1 and a missense mutation, GAC-->TAC (asp to tyr), in exon 2 of the DU145 cell line at codon 76. No mutations were identified in three primary prostate cancers or in seven lymph node metastases. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was analyzed by analysis of microsatellite markers in the vicinity of the CDKN2 gene. LOH was detected in 12 (20%) of 60 primary tumors at one or more loci and in 13 (46%) of 28 metastases. Methylation analysis of the CpG-rich promoter region revealed a dense methylation of CDKN2 in cell lines PC3, PPC1, and TSU-PR1, and this was found to correlate with a lack of mRNA expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A demethylating agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, induced reexpression when cells were exposed in vitro. DU145 and LNCaP expressed the CDKN2 transcript and were unmethylated in the promoter region. Three of twenty-four (13%) primary prostate cancers and 1 of 12 metastatic tumors demonstrated promoter methylation. No normal prostate tissues were methylated at the CDKN2 gene promoter. One tumor was found to contain concomitant LOH and promoter methylation indicative of biallelic inactivation. A comprehensive analysis of CDKN2 in prostate cancer reveals that point mutations are infrequent, but gene deletion and methylation combine to inactivate CDKN2 in a subset of tumors. Moreover, alterations in this gene may represent a late event in prostate cancer progression.
 ...
PMID:Deletional, mutational, and methylation analyses of CDKN2 (p16/MTS1) in primary and metastatic prostate cancer. 917 99

The product of the p16/INK4a/CDKN2/MTS1 tumor-suppressor gene acts as a negative cell cycle regulator by inhibiting G1 cyclin-dependent kinases that phosphorylate the retinoblastoma protein. p16 is inactivated in a wide range of human malignancies, including familial melanoma. However, its expression and function in sporadic melanoma has not been extensively investigated. We studied p16 expression in 62 archival melanomas and 30 archival nevi and lentigines by immunohistochemistry. Eighteen of 26 (69%) superficial spreading melanomas, 17 of 28 (61%) nodular melanomas, all of three lentigo maligna melanomas, and all of five melanoma metastases were found to harbor less than 10% p16-positive tumor cells. In contrast, only six of 24 (25%) nevi had less than 10% positive cells. No correlation between tumor thickness and loss of p16 expression was found. Using DNA from micro-dissected tumor and matched normal tissues, five of seven (71%) p16-negative melanoma cases had 9p21 loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and one of these 9p21 LOH cases had promoter region hypermethylation of the remaining p16 allele. These data demonstrate that partial or complete loss of p16 expression is prevalent in sporadic melanoma and is frequently associated with 9p21 LOH.
 ...
PMID:p16INK4a expression is frequently decreased and associated with 9p21 loss of heterozygosity in sporadic melanoma. 969 17

The mouse skin model of chemical carcinogenesis has been very well characterized with respect to epigenetic changes, which occur during tumour cell initiation, promotion and progression. The use of transgenic and gene knock-out mice has contributed greatly to knowledge in this area. The H-ras genetic locus has been shown to undergo multiple genetic changes, including mutagenic activation, amplification of the mutant gene, and loss of the normal allele. These different genetic events lead to thresholds of ras activity which contribute to different stages along the pathway to neoplasia. The genetic and epigenetic events which lead to tumour invasion and metastasis have been less well characterized than studies on tumour initiation and promotion, despite the fact that it is metastases which ultimately kill the animal/patient. In the mouse skin model, loss of p53 contributes to malignant conversion. Gene deletion of the INK4 locus is associated with transformation to a highly invasive spindle cell tumor phenotype. This spindle cell transformation can also be induced in vitro or in vivo by TGF beta 1, possible by synergizing with mutant H-ras. TGF beta can have both positive and negative effects on tumourigenesis, acting early as a tumour suppresser, but later as a stimulator of tumour invasion. It is this latter effect which may be clinically more significant, since many human tumours overexpress TGF beta, yet the majority still retain the intracellular signaling systems necessary for the cell to respond to this growth factor.
 ...
PMID:Genetic events and the role of TGF beta in epithelial tumour progression. 1034 8

Epigenetic mechanisms may be the main driving force for critical changes in gene expression that are responsible for progression of prostate cancers. The three most extensively characterized mechanisms for epigenetic gene-regulation are (i) changing patterns of DNA methylation, (ii) histone acetylations/deacetylations, and (iii) alterations in regulatory feedback loops for growth factors. Several studies have indicated that DNA hypermethylation is an important mechanism in prostate cancer for inactivation of key regulatory genes such as E-cadherin, pi-class glutathione S-transferase, the tumor suppressors CDKN2 and PTEN, and IGF-II. Similarly, histone acetylations and deacetylations are frequently associated respectively with transcriptional activation (e.g. IGFBP-2 and p21) and repression (e.g. Mad:Max dimers) of genes linked to prostate cancer progression. Recently, histone acetyltransferase and deacetylase activities have been shown to be intrinsic with transcriptional coregulator proteins that bind to steroid receptors (e.g. SRC-1 and PCAF). Changes in regulatory feedback loops for growth factors with prostate cancer progression tend toward shifts from paracrine to autocrine control where the receptor and ligand are produced by the same cell. While there are several examples of this progression pattern in prostate tumors such as with IGF, FGF, TGF-alpha and their respective receptors, the precise mechanism (i.e. epigenetic or mutational) is less certain. In the context of treatment options, the contribution of mutational versus epigenetic events to prostate cancer progression is an important consideration. Irreversible genetic changes are likely to be less amenable to therapeutic control than are epigenetic ones.
Cancer Metastasis Rev
PMID:Epigenetic mechanisms for progression of prostate cancer. 1045 84

We have analyzed the expression of the CDKN1A (p21(CIP1)), CDKN1B (p27(Kip1)), TP53, RB1 and MDM2 proteins and tumor cell proliferation by immunohistochemical staining in 59 cases of metastatic melanoma. The genomic status of the CDKN2A (INK4-ARF, p16/p14(ARF)), CDKN2B (p15) and CDKN2C (p18) genes was determined by PCR-SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism) in 46 of these cases. These results were correlated with various clinico-pathological parameters, including the outcome of combined chemoimmunotherapy. We found positive correlations between the expression of CDKN1A and MDM2 (r = 0.5063, P = 0.001), between the expression of CDKN1B and RB1 (r = 0.5026, P = 0.001), and between RB1 expression and tumor cell proliferation (0.5564, P<0.001). Two mutations in the CDKN2A (p16) gene were detected, including a novel base change AAC-->ATC (Asn to Ile) at codon 71, that also changes the codon 85 of the alternative reading frame gene p14(ARF) from CAA to CAT (Gln to His). Homozygous deletion at exon 2 of the CDKN2A (INK4-ARF) gene was detected in six cases. In seven cases, the 540C-->G polymorphism in the 3'UTR of the CDKN2A (p16) gene was found in linkage disequilibrium with the 74C-->A polymorphism in intron 1 of the CDKN2B gene (P < 0.0001). These cases had significantly lower expression of the TP53 protein (P = 0.0032). Both 540C-->G and 580C-->T polymorphisms in the 3'UTR of the CDKN2A (p16) gene were associated with significantly shorter progression time from primary to metastatic disease (P = 0.0071). We conclude, that although none of the analyzed cell cycle regulators could be singled out as a major prognostic factor, G(1)/S checkpoint abnormalities remain one of the most significant factors in the development of malignant melanoma.
 ...
PMID:Analysis of G(1)/S checkpoint regulators in metastatic melanoma. 1086 49

Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) is an aggressive tumour with a high metastatic potential. Deletions of chromosome 9p have been detected in CMM, some of which involve the CDKN2A/p14ARF genes. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of 16 microsatellite markers on 9p and mutations in the CDKN2A/p14ARF genes had been previously studied in 32 melanoma patients by our group. 9p deletions were detected in 15 primary tumours (45.5%) and are here correlated with the clinical outcome over 5 years and compared with classical prognostic factors. Eight of the 32 patients developed metastases (25%). The metastases were all detected within 768 days of the initial diagnosis. The patients without metastases were last monitored at least 1621 days after diagnosis. None of the 21 patients with more than eight microsatellites conserved developed metastases, whereas all of the eight patients who developed metastases had eight or more markers deleted. The sensitivity of this analysis to predict metastases was 100% (specificity 84%), whereas the sensitivity for the same sample using a Breslow thickness > 3 mm was 62.5% (specificity 68%). LOH of eight or more of the 9p microsatellite markers is therefore a useful prognostic factor to predict the development of metastases in the first 4.4-6.3 years (1621-2294 days).
 ...
PMID:Large deletions of chromosome 9p in cutaneous malignant melanoma identify patients with a high risk of developing metastases. Hospital Clinic Malignant Melanoma Group, University of Barcelona. 1089 Mar 76


1 2 3 4 5 Next >>