Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
10:26

RNAscope for In situ Detection of Transcriptionally Active Human Papillomavirus in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: March 11, 2014

[Oncoprotein p21-ras expression in epidermoid carcinoma of the laryngopharynx]

C Baldo Sierra1, F Núñez Batalla, O Domínguez

  • 1Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Central de Asturias, Oviedo.

Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola
|May 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Ras gene mutations and p21 protein overexpression can both contribute to cancer. This study found no direct correlation between ras mutations and p21 overexpression in pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Context:

  • Ras genes are crucial in cell signaling pathways.
  • Aberrant Ras activity, through mutations or overexpression, is implicated in various cancers.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and larynx represents a significant clinical challenge.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the co-occurrence and potential correlation between ras gene mutations and p21 protein overexpression in pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
  • To elucidate the distinct mechanisms contributing to malignant transformation driven by Ras oncogenes.

Summary:

  • This study analyzed 13 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the pharynx and larynx.
  • Ras gene mutations were detected in 7 cases, while p21 protein overexpression was observed in 9 cases.
  • No significant correlation was found between the presence of ras gene mutations and the overexpression of the p21 protein in these tumor samples.

Impact:

  • The findings suggest that ras gene mutations and p21 protein overexpression represent independent pathways contributing to the development of pharyngeal and laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas.
  • Understanding these distinct mechanisms is vital for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.
  • Further research may explore the functional consequences of each mechanism in driving tumor progression.

More Related Videos

Identification of OTX1 and OTX2 As Two Possible Molecular Markers for Sinonasal Carcinomas and Olfactory Neuroblastomas07:00

Identification of OTX1 and OTX2 As Two Possible Molecular Markers for Sinonasal Carcinomas and Olfactory Neuroblastomas

Published on: February 28, 2019

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma03:36

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Published on: April 12, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Abnormal Proliferation02:23

Abnormal Proliferation

Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes01:33

Cancer-Critical Genes I: Proto-oncogenes

Genes usually encode proteins necessary for the proper functioning of a healthy cell. Mutations can often cause changes to the gene expression pattern, thereby altering the phenotype.
When the function of certain critical genes, especially those involved in cell cycle regulation and cell growth signaling cascades, gets disrupted, it upsets the cell cycle progression. Such cells with unchecked cell cycles start proliferating uncontrollably and eventually develop into tumors.
Such genes that act...
The Ras Gene02:38

The Ras Gene

The Ras-gene-encoded proteins are regulators of signaling pathways controlling cell proliferation, differentiation, or cell survival. The Ras-gene family in humans constitutes three primary members—the HRas, NRas, and KRas. These genes code for four functionally distinct yet closely related proteins—the HRas, NRas, KRas4A, and KRas4B. The involvement of mutant Ras genes in human cancer was first discovered in 1982 and is among the most common causes of human tumorigenesis.
Ras is a superfamily...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...