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Genetic alterations involved in the development of gallbladder carcinomas from Greek patients
A Saetta1, A C Lazaris, N V Michalopoulos
1Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. asaetta@cc.uoa.gr
Background/Aims:
The genetic pathways of gallbladder cancer are not yet well defined since the contribution of genetic abnormalities clarified in other organs remains questionable.
Methodology:
We investigated a group of 22 gallbladder carcinomas from Greek patients with regard to p53 mutations, bax and TGF-beta RII alterations--as indicators of microsatellite instability. The findings were correlated to the presence of ras mutations, patients' clinicopathologic features and survival. PCR-SSCP analysis was performed for the detection of p53 mutations in conserved domains IV and V.
Results:
In five tumors p53 mutations were detected; none of them was ras mutated. Although these tumors were characterized by flat morphology, low histologic grade and rather advanced stage, no statistical correlation could be determined. No indications of microsatellite instability were found.
Conclusions:
Ras and p53 genes do not appear to cooperate during gallbladder cancer, at least as far as the flat type of cancer is concerned. p53 alterations are likely to take part in the de novo pathway of gallbladder carcinogenesis.