Related Experiment Videos
Chromosomal localisation of two putative 11p oncosuppressor genes involved in human ovarian tumours
A Viel1, F Giannini, L Tumiotto
1Division of Experimental Oncology 1, Centro Riferimento Oncologico, Aviano (PN), Italy.
Abstract:
In this study, 44 primary or metastatic human ovarian tumours were tested for allelic deletions on the short arm of chromosome 11. Analysis of 12 polymorphic loci by Southern blotting evidenced loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in at least one locus in 41% of cases. Moreover, two hot spots of deletions were tentatively mapped on 11p13 and 11p15.5. Our results demonstrated that LOH at 11p is a common event in ovarian carcinomas and were indicative of the possible existence in 11p of two oncosuppressor genes involved in ovarian carcinogenesis. The similarity observed with 11p allelic losses in Wilms tumours, clustered in 11p13 and 11p15.5 too, suggests that deletion and possibly inactivation of the same growth regulatory genes (WT genes) could also contribute to development of the malignant phenotype in ovarian carcinomas. Finally, a statistically significant association (P = 0.005) between 11p deletions and hepatic involvement was suggested by the analysis of distribution of 11p LOH relative to different clinical and pathological parameters of the tumour patients.
Insights
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 11p is common in ovarian cancer, suggesting tumor suppressor genes in this region are involved. These findings link 11p deletions to potential hepatic involvement in ovarian carcinomas.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Human Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ovarian carcinomas are a significant cause of cancer-related mortality.
- The genetic underpinnings of ovarian carcinogenesis are complex and not fully understood.
- Chromosome 11p is implicated in various cancers, but its role in ovarian cancer requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate allelic deletions on the short arm of chromosome 11 (11p) in human ovarian tumors.
- To identify potential tumor suppressor genes involved in ovarian carcinogenesis.
- To explore the association between 11p deletions and clinical parameters in ovarian cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 44 primary or metastatic human ovarian tumors.
- Southern blotting to assess loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 12 polymorphic loci on chromosome 11p.
- Statistical analysis to correlate 11p LOH with clinical and pathological data.
Main Results:
- Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 11p was detected in 41% of the analyzed ovarian tumors.
- Two deletion hotspots were tentatively mapped to chromosomal regions 11p13 and 11p15.5.
- A statistically significant association was observed between 11p deletions and hepatic involvement (P = 0.005).
Conclusions:
- Loss of heterozygosity at 11p is a frequent event in ovarian carcinomas.
- The findings suggest the presence of at least two tumor suppressor genes on 11p involved in ovarian cancer development.
- The observed similarities with 11p allelic losses in Wilms tumors indicate that inactivation of shared growth regulatory genes may contribute to ovarian carcinogenesis.