Related Experiment Videos
WNT and FGF gene clusters (review).
1Genetics and Cell Biology Section, Genetics Division, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. mkatoh@ncc.go.jp
International Journal of Oncology
|November 14, 2002
Summary
Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) retroviral integration activates Wnt and Fgf genes, highlighting Wnt and Fgf gene clusters as recombination hotspots in carcinogenesis. These clusters are implicated in various cancers through amplification and translocation.
Area of Science:
- Genetics and Genomics
- Cancer Biology
- Retroviral Research
Background:
- Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) retroviral integration activates Wnt, Fgf, and other genes.
- WNT and FGF gene clusters are conserved across human and mouse genomes.
- MMTV proviral integration preferentially targets WNT and FGF gene clusters in mice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of WNT and FGF gene clusters in MMTV-induced carcinogenesis.
- To identify WNT and FGF gene clusters as potential recombination hotspots.
- To explore the involvement of WNT and FGF gene clusters in human cancers.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of MMTV proviral integration sites in mouse genomes.
- Comparative analysis of WNT and FGF gene cluster conservation between human and mouse.
- Review of literature on chromosomal alterations in human cancers involving WNT and FGF genes.
Main Results:
- MMTV proviral integration in mice significantly favors WNT and FGF gene clusters (p=0.0033).
- WNT and FGF gene clusters are identified as recombination hotspots associated with carcinogenesis.
- The CCND1-FGF19-FGF4-FGF3 cluster on human chromosome 11q13 is frequently amplified or translocated in various cancers.
Conclusions:
- WNT and FGF gene clusters are recombination hotspots crucial for MMTV-induced carcinogenesis.
- Chromosomal alterations within WNT and FGF gene clusters contribute to cancer development.
- These findings suggest potential roles for other WNT and FGF gene clusters in human cancers.