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Biomedical subjects

J D Minna

Publications and source records attributed to J D Minna.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-induced 3p21.3 aberrations and genetic predisposition to lung cancer.

3p deletion, a common chromosome defect in lung cancer, occurs more frequently in the lung tumor tissues of smoking patients than it does in those of nonsmoking patients. This pilot study evaluated whether 3p aberrations induced by benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE), the metabolic product of benzo[a]pyrene, a constituent of tobacco smoke, were more common in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 40 lung cancer patients than they were in those of 54 matched controls. Our hypothesis was that 3p sensitivity to BPDE reflects the susceptibility of a specific locus to damage from carcinogens in tobacco smoke. BPDE-induced chromosome 3p21.3 aberrations were significantly more frequent in cases (34.1 per 1000) than they were in controls (22.1 per 1000; P < 0.0001). However, no such difference was observed for 6q27, a control locus. Using the median value in the controls (20 per 1000) as a cutoff point to classify BPDE-induced sensitivity at 3p21.3 and after adjustment by age, sex, ethnicity, and smoking status, 3p BPDE sensitivity was associated with an elevated risk of 14.1 (95% confidence interval: 3.5, 56.2) for lung cancer. There was also a dose-response relationship between the degree of BPDE sensitivity at 3p21.3 and increased risk for lung cancer. Therefore, 3p may be a molecular target for BPDE damage in lung cancer cases.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Abnormalities of fragile histidine triad genomic and complementary DNAs in cervical cancer: association with human papillomavirus type.

BACKGROUND: Chromosome 3p14.2 contains FRA3B, the most active chromosome breakage site in the human genome. The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene, a putative tumor suppressor gene, overlaps FRA3B. Human papillomavirus (HPV), a known cofactor in cervical carcinogenesis, can integrate into FRA3B. We examined abnormalities in FHIT and its RNA transcripts in cervical cancer cell lines and tumors. We also investigated the relationship between loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in FHIT/FRA3B and the presence of oncogenic HPV types. METHODS: Eleven cell lines, 40 tumors (20 fresh and 20 archival), and 10 normal cervical epithelia were examined. Two intragenic polymorphic markers (D3S1300 and D3S4103) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to examine FHIT LOH. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of RT-PCR products were used to characterize FHIT transcripts. Oncogenic HPV types were identified by PCR, using general and type-specific primers. RESULTS: All normal epithelia, 19 of 20 fresh tumors and nine of 11 cell lines expressed wild-type and, occasionally, exon 8-deleted FHIT transcripts. Additional aberrant FHIT transcripts were seen in nine of 20 fresh tumors and in seven of 11 cell lines. DNA sequencing of the aberrant transcripts revealed a variety of insertions and deletions but no point mutations. Three cell lines also had homozygous FHIT deletions. Oncogenic HPV types (i.e., 16, 18, 31, and 33) were detected in 18 of 20 archival tumors, and, in these tumors, LOH within FHIT was identified in nine of 16 informative cases. HPV 16 was found to be associated with LOH in the FHIT/FRA3B region (P = .041). CONCLUSION: FHIT/FRA3B is frequently altered in cervical cancer, demonstrating LOH, occasional homozygous deletions, and frequent aberrant transcripts not found in normal epithelia. However, the presence of wild-type transcripts and the lack of protein-altering point mutations raise questions about FHIT's function as a classic tumor suppressor gene in cervical tissue.

Chromosome Deletion↗

Allelotyping demonstrates common and distinct patterns of chromosomal loss in human lung cancer types.

Allelic loss is a hallmark of tumor suppressor gene (TSG) inactivation. We have allelotyped 29 paired lymphoblastoid and lung cancer cell lines derived from 11 patients with small cell (SCLC) and 18 patients with non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Statistical analysis indicated that a threshold of 30% separated non-random allelic loss from the random genetic deletions of malignancy. We have identified non-random allelic loss at 42 of 54 (78%) specific chromosomal regions examined, with 22 regions (52%) common between the two major lung cancer histologic types. There were 3 regions (7%) with allelic loss specific for SCLC and 17 regions (41%) specific for NSCLC. Furthermore, there were significant differences in loss of heterozygosity (LOH) frequencies between NSCLC and SCLC at 13 regions on eight chromosome arms (3p, 5q, 6q, 9p, 10q, 11p, 13q, and 19p). Eight homozygous deletions were present in seven cell lines at four regions, 3p12, 3p14.2, 9p21, and 10q23-25. We have also identified novel sites of chromosomal deletions. In particular, there was frequent loss at 11p13 in SCLC and loss at 6p21.3 and 13q12.3 in NSCLC. In this study, we demonstrate that a) non-random allelic losses in lung cancer involve multiple regions; b) some losses are common to both NSCLC and SCLC subtypes, whereas others are subtype specific; c) there are genetic deletions at novel chromosomal regions; and d) several homozygous deletions have been noted. Our studies demonstrate the usefulness of continuous cell lines for detailed allelotyping, for comparing genetic abnormalities between SCLC and NSCLC, and for identifying homozygous deletions.

Adult↗

p53 mutations in non-small-cell lung cancers occurring in individuals without a past history of active smoking.

Accumulating evidence suggests that the p53 gene is a good target for molecular epidemiological studies. We previously reported an association between the presence of p53 mutations and lifetime cigarette consumption. Although over 675 p53 mutations have been reported in lung cancers in the literature thus far, very little is known about the nature of such changes in lung cancers in the absence of a smoking background. In the present study, we therefore analysed 69 non-small-cell lung cancer specimens from individuals without any history of active smoking and identified p53 mutations in 26% of the cases. Statistical analysis of the present cohort of non-smokers also showed absence of significant relationship between p53 mutations and age, sex, histological type or disease stage. Comparison of mutational spectra between the present results in non-smokers and previously reported mutations in smokers clearly demonstrated G:C to T:A transversions to be significantly less frequent in non-smokers than in smokers (OR 5.35, 95% CI 1.77-16.12). Interestingly, G:C to C:G and G:C to A:T mutations were also observed in tumours of non-smokers at similar frequencies to G:C to T:A mutations, suggesting that these mutations can occur relatively frequently in the absence of active smoking. This study is, to our knowledge, the largest so far analysing a well-defined cohort of non-smokers in a single laboratory.

Adult↗

Comparison of features of human breast cancer cell lines and their corresponding tumors.

Although human tumor-derived cell lines play an important role in the investigation of cancer biology and genetics, there is no comprehensive study comparing tumor cell line properties with those of the individual tumors from which they were derived. We compared the properties of a series of 18 human breast cancer cell lines that were cultured for a median period of 25 months (range, 9-60 months) and their corresponding archival tumor tissues. We compared morphological characteristics, ploidy, and immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2/neu and p53 proteins. For 17 of these cases, we also tested for allelic losses at 18 chromosomal regions frequently deleted in breast tumors using 51 polymorphic microsatellite markers, and we determined the TP53 gene mutation status in exons 5 to 10. There was an excellent correlation between the breast tumor cell lines and their corresponding tumor tissues for morphological features (100%); presence of aneuploidy (87%); immunohistochemical expression of estrogen receptors (87%), progesterone receptors (73%), and HER2/neu (93%) and p53 proteins (100%); allelic loss at all of the chromosomal regions analyzed (82-100% concordance); and TP53 gene mutations (75%). The same parental allele was lost in 279 (99%) of 281 of the comparisons of allelic losses. The fractional allelic loss indices (a reflection of the total allelic loss) of the cell lines and their corresponding tumor tissues were identical or similar in 15 (88%) of 17 paired comparisons. Although our previous studies (A. Gazdar et al., Int. J. Cancer, in press) indicated that only a subset of primary breast carcinomas that have several features indicative of advanced tumors with poor prognosis can be successfully cultured, the cell lines retain the properties of their parental tumors for lengthy culture periods and, thus, provide suitable model systems for biomedical studies.

Adult↗

Molecular damage in the bronchial epithelium of current and former smokers.

BACKGROUND: Most lung cancers are attributed to smoking. These cancers have been associated with multiple genetic alterations and with the presence of preneoplastic bronchial lesions. In view of such associations, we evaluated the status of specific chromosomal loci in histologically normal and abnormal bronchial biopsy specimens from current and former smokers and specimens from nonsmokers. METHODS: Multiple biopsy specimens were obtained from 18 current smokers, 24 former smokers, and 21 nonsmokers. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays involving 15 polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers were used to examine eight chromosomal regions for genetic changes (loss of heterozygosity [LOH] and microsatellite alterations). RESULTS: LOH and microsatellite alterations were observed in biopsy specimens from both current and former smokers, but no statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups. Among individuals with a history of smoking, 86% demonstrated LOH in one or more biopsy specimens, and 24% showed LOH in all biopsy specimens. About half of the histologically normal specimens from smokers showed LOH, but the frequency of LOH and the severity of histologic change did not correspond until the carcinoma in situ stage. A subset of biopsy specimens from smokers that exhibited either normal or preneoplastic histology showed LOH at multiple chromosomal sites, a phenomenon frequently observed in carcinoma in situ and invasive cancer. LOH on chromosomes 3p and 9p was more frequent than LOH on chromosomes 5q, 17p (17p13; TP53 gene), and 13q (13q14; retinoblastoma gene). Microsatellite alterations were detected in 64% of the smokers. No genetic alterations were detected in nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic changes similar to those found in lung cancers can be detected in the nonmalignant bronchial epithelium of current and former smokers and may persist for many years after smoking cessation.

Adult↗

Analysis of the FHIT gene and FRA3B region in sporadic breast cancer, preneoplastic lesions, and familial breast cancer probands.

The FHIT gene, which spans the FRA3B fragile site at chromosome 3p14.2, is a candidate tumor suppressor gene in breast and other cancers. We investigated FHIT and FRA3B for loss of heterozygosity (LOH); homozygous deletions; abnormal transcripts; and acquired/germ-line point mutations in breast cancer cell lines (n = 32), breast epithelial and stromal cell cultures (n = 18), microdissected invasive (n = 16) and ductal in situ carcinomas (n = 6), and their accompanying normal and abnormal epithelial foci (n = 14). LOH at 3p14.2, especially at FHIT intragenic marker D3S1300, was found in 6 of 16 microdissected invasive tumors and 3 of 6 ductal in situ carcinomas. In accompanying preneoplastic foci, LOH occurred in two of eight intraductal hyperplasias but not in histologically normal ductal epithelium (n = 6). Three of 32 (9%) breast cancer cell lines demonstrated homozygous deletions of FHIT exon 4 (two cases) and exon 5 (one case), which correlated with exon 4-deleted transcripts and loss of the cDNA transcript containing the coding exons 5-9, respectively. Normal mammary cultures and 31 of 32 tumor cell lines (97%) expressed wild-type coding transcripts as well as a minor exon 8-deleted message. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of the coding exons in the 32 tumor and 18 normal breast cell lines and their sequencing revealed four silent polymorphisms and a germ-line histidine triad point mutation (651 G-->T) in a tumor arising in a 70-year-old woman. This mutation was also present in one of her two thus far unaffected daughters. Analysis of additional DNAs from 280 probands of high-risk breast cancer families for other FHIT exon 8 mutations detected an intronic point mutation 13 bases upstream of exon 8. Thus, we have demonstrated relatively early abnormalities of the FHIT/FRA3B region in breast cancer and discovered two rare FHIT germ-line mutations. The expression of a transcript containing the coding exons in nearly all cell lines, including those with germ-line mutations, suggests the possibility that another gene in the FRA3B region may be involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Deletions of chromosome 3p are frequent and early events in the pathogenesis of uterine cervical carcinoma.

To study the molecular abnormalities involved in the multistage development of cervical carcinoma (CC), we investigated the presence of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) sequences, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and microsatellite alterations at several genes/loci at 3p (3p14.2 at the FHIT gene, 3p14.3-21.1, 3p21, and 3p22-24.2), 9p21, RB and P53, and P53 gene point mutations in precisely microdissected archival tissues from 20 CCs and their accompanying precursor lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN; n = 40) and normal epithelia (n = 20). In all HPV-positive cases (90% of CCs), HPV sequences were detected as the earliest appearing molecular change or simultaneously with other changes. LOH at any 3p region was found in 70% of CCs, and 3p14.2 (FHIT gene/FRA3B fragile site) (56%) and 3p21 (57%) were the most frequent 3p sites of loss. LOH at some 3p region was in the CIN I stage, and the 3p deletions in precursor CIN lesions were smaller than the 3p losses found in the associated invasive CC. LOH at the other regions studied and P53 gene mutations were less frequent and later events. Microsatellite alterations were detected in 35% of CCs, and identical abnormalities were detected in the associated precursor lesions. Although infection with oncogenic HPV strains is the earliest and most frequent molecular event, progressive deletions at one or more 3p regions (particularly at 3p14.2, and 3p21) are also frequent events occurring early in the pathogenesis of CC.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

FHIT and FRA3B 3p14.2 allele loss are common in lung cancer and preneoplastic bronchial lesions and are associated with cancer-related FHIT cDNA splicing aberrations.

We evaluated primary lung cancers, tumor cell lines, and preneoplastic bronchial lesions for molecular genetic abnormalities in the candidate tumor suppressor gene FHIT, which spans the FRA3B fragile site at 3p14.2. 3p14.2 allele loss was very frequent in 32 lung cancer cell lines [100% of small cell lung cancer and 88% of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)] and 108 primary NSCLC cancers (45%), with numerous breakpoints indicating involvement of several distinct regions in the FRA3B site. 3p14 allele loss was least frequent in the adenocarcinoma subtype and occurred at the relatively late carcinoma in situ stage of preneoplastic bronchial lesions found in NSCLC patients. Homozygous deletions within the FHIT/FRA3B region were found in 6 of 135 (4.4%) thoracic cancer cell lines. Northern blot showed low or absent FHIT expression in most thoracic cancer cell lines tested, whereas reverse transcription-PCR showed that 59-62% exhibited aberrant FHIT transcripts but nearly always (93-100%) also expressing the wild-type transcripts. Aberrant transcripts included precise deletions of FHIT exons, insertion of non-FHIT sequences between exons and insertions replacing exons. Complete open reading frame single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis of 102 lung cancer cDNAs revealed only one nonsplicing mutation. Normal cells including bronchial epithelium, lung, and trachea expressed wild-type FHIT transcript and a variant transcript deleted for exon 8 but not the other aberrant transcripts, arguing against exon 8-deleted FHIT transcripts being tumor specific. Our findings support the conclusion that FHIT/FRA3B abnormalities are associated with lung cancer pathogenesis but that FHIT abnormalities differ from the types of mutations and lack of wild-type transcript found in classic tumor suppressor genes, and functional studies are needed to define the role of FHIT in thoracic tumorigenesis.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

Mutation analysis of the coding sequences of MEK-1 and MEK-2 genes in human lung cancer cell lines.

Recently, constitutively active mutants of MEK (MAP/ERK kinase) were shown to be capable of transforming cells to tumorigenicity suggesting that MEK can function as a dominant oncogene and potentially play a role in human carcinogenesis. Human lung cancer cells exhibit mutations in other components of the MAP kinase signaling pathway such as the Her-2/neu and ras oncogenes. Thus, the coding sequences of both MEK-1 and MEK-2 cDNAs from human lung cancer cell lines were screened by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing for alterations in these two genes. In 37 lung cancer cell lines we found: an allelic variant in MEK-1 cDNA, nt 783 G-->A, (no amino acid change); a MEK-2 cDNA change (nt 977 C-->T mutation leading to 298 Pro-->Leu change); a MEK-2 cDNA change nt 537 C-->T (no amino acid change); and a frequent MEK-2 cDNA germline polymorphism nt 744, A-->C (no amino acid change) with an allele frequency of 0.5 for each form. These results suggest that mutations in the MEK-1 and MEK-2 gene occur at a very low frequency in human lung cancer.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

Identification of three distinct tumor suppressor loci on the short arm of chromosome 9 in small cell lung cancer.

Deletion at 9p21 is frequent in many tumor types. A candidate tumor suppressor gene, p16INK4a, was mapped to this region and is frequently inactivated by several different mechanisms in many tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer, but not in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). p16 functions as a cyclin/CDK inhibitor to prevent phosphorylation of pRB. It has been demonstrated that most SCLCs have lost pRB but retained p16, and the inactivation of pRB excludes the inactivation of p16 and vice versa. To determine the potential existence of other tumor suppressor genes on the short arm of chromosome 9 in SCLC, we tested 46 primary SCLCs by microsatellite analysis. We found that more than 89% of the tumors exhibited loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 9p with three distinct minimal deleted areas. Among those areas, LOH at 9p21 was most frequent (86%), with a peak at a marker 150 kb telomeric to p16INK4a. LOH was also observed in more than 50% of the tumors at two other regions, 9p22 and 9p13. Our data strongly suggest the presence of at least three novel tumor suppressor loci on 9p in SCLC, and further investigations to clone candidate tumor suppressor genes are warranted.

Carcinoma, Small Cell↗

Precise localization of the FHIT gene to the common fragile site at 3p14.2 (FRA3B) and characterization of homozygous deletions within FRA3B that affect FHIT transcription in tumor cell lines.

Chromosomal or allelic losses at 3p14 are common in a variety of human tumors, including those of the lung, breast, kidney, and head and neck. This suggests the existence of a tumor suppressor gene in this band. A promising candidate is the recently cloned FHIT gene, which spans the common fragile site, FRA3B, at 3p14.2. We previously identified a region of fragility at 3p14.2 (FRA3B) of > 85 kb by cloning DNA flanking pSV2neo integrations and constructed a partial genomic contig of the region. Using probes from the contig, we tested for deletions within this region in DNA from 105 human tumor cell lines, predominantly derived from lung cancers. We identified one gastric and four lung cancer cell lines with homozygous interstitial deletions involving the FRA3B region. The deletion in one lung cancer cell line lies entirely within our contig and is < 65 kb. We have identified, cloned, and sequenced this breakpoint junction. We have also shown that our probes lie within intron S of the FHIT gene and, furthermore, that exon 5 is located approximately 1 kb from one of our probes and, thus, lies within the region of fragility. Two lines with entirely intronic deletions yield FHIT transcripts of normal size. In one of these, this was the sole transcript identified. In the other line, an FHIT transcript completely normal in sequence was accompanied by two larger abnormal transcripts. These results leave open the possibility that some homozygous deletions within the FHIT gene are without phenotypic effect and result from genetic instability of this region. However, taken together, our results provide evidence that breakage and rearrangement within the FRA3B fragile site sequences result in alterations of FHIT and are likely to be involved in carcinogenesis.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

The human homolog of the rodent immediate early response genes, PC4 and TIS7, resides in the lung cancer tumor suppressor gene region on chromosome 3p21.

Recently, human chromosome band 3p21.3 was shown to undergo overlapping homozygous deletions in several small cell lung cancer lines further defining a putative tumor suppressor gene(s) region. We report the cloning and mutational analysis of a novel human gene, SKMc15, from the commonly homozygously deleted region in three small cell lung cancer lines (NCI-H1450, NCI-H740, GLC20). It has 11 exons ranging in size from 50 to 541 bp with an open reading frame of 442 amino acids. The gene covers 7 to 10 kb of genomic DNA; the message of 1.8 to 2 kb is expressed in all analyzed fetal and adult human and mouse tissues including heart, brain, placenta, lung liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, testis and pancreas and in small cell and non-small cell cancer lines. The intron/exon boundaries were used to analyze the gene for mutations by exon PCR-SSCP sequencing in 60 small cell lung cancer cell lines. No loss-of-function mutations were detected. The cDNA sequence has high homology, 75% at the protein level, to the rat early response gene PC4 and its murine homolog TIS7. In addition, the known partial sequence of the putative mouse interferon beta2 (64 amino acids) gene is highly conserved in PC4/TIS7 (94%) and in SKMc15 (83%) at the amino acid level. The sequence TAAAT, which is thought to be involved in mRNA degradation, is present in the 3' UTR of SKMc15 and in the 3' UTR of PC4 and TIS7 genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of methadone receptor subtypes present in human brain and lung tissues.

In addition to their use in pain control, opioids can function as regulators of tumor cell growth. We have found that the therapeutic opioid, methadone, significantly inhibits the in vitro and in vivo growth of human lung cancer cells, and this effect appears to be mediated by specific, high affinity, non-conventional opioid binding sites. The present study indicates the existence of multiple subtypes of binding sites mediating the peripheral and central nervous system actions of this drug. Pharmacological and biochemical characterizations of the methadone binding sites expressed in human brain and normal lung tissues indicate that these sites are distinct from each other and from other opioid receptor types present on human and rat brain membranes, as well as those expressed in human lung cancer cells. The identification of distinct methadone receptor types in the different tissues could lead to the development of more selective and less toxic drugs targeted toward the tumor cells.

Animals↗

Neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. Pathology and molecular biology.

Our understanding of the molecular genetic changes in lung cancer pathogenesis is advancing rapidly with several specific genes and chromosomal regions having been identified. As the biochemical functions of the proteins encoded by these genes are discovered, they appear to fall into several growth regulatory pathways. The large number of genetic lesions in clinically evident lung cancer has prompted searching for mutations in preneoplastic lung tissue before the pathologic evidence of cancer as a tool for early molecular diagnosis. In addition, these markers need to be rigorously assessed for their prognostic importance. Finally, understanding the molecular basis of lung cancer should allow "translation" of these findings from the bench to the bedside. These include very early molecular diagnosis, identification of persons at highest risk of developing lung cancer to allow for more effective smoking cessation strategies, chemoprevention, and very early treatment studies (clinical studies beginning); rational development of novel therapies such as immunization against tumor-specific mutant peptides (clinical studies ongoing); blocking the expression of activated oncogenes (such as with antisense or triple helix agents); and replacing defective tumor suppressor genes (clinical studies ongoing).

Carcinoid Tumor↗

Human semaphorins A(V) and IV reside in the 3p21.3 small cell lung cancer deletion region and demonstrate distinct expression patterns.

Semaphorins and collapsins make up a family of conserved genes that encode nerve growth cone guidance signals. We have identified two additional members of the human semaphorin family [human semaphorin A(V) and human semaphorin IV] in chromosome region 3p21.3, where several small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines exhibit homozygous deletions indicative of a tumor suppressor gene. Human semaphorin A(V) has 86% amino acid homology with murine semaphorin A, whereas semaphorin IV is most closely related to murine semaphorin E, with 50% homology. These semaphorin genes are approximately 70 kb apart flanking two GTP-binding protein genes, GNAI-2 and GNAT-1. In contrast, other human semaphorin gene sequences (human semaphorin III and homologues of murine semaphorins B and C) are not located on chromosome 3. Human semaphorin A(V) is translated in vitro into a 90-kDa protein, which accumulates at the endoplasmic reticulum. The human semaphorin A(V) (3.4-kb mRNA) and IV (3.9- and 2.9-kb mRNAs) genes are expressed abundantly but differentially in a variety of human neural and nonneural tissues. Human semaphorin A(V) was expressed in only 1 out of 23 SCLCs and 7 out of 16 non-SCLCs, whereas semaphorin IV was expressed in 19 out of 23 SCLCs and 13 out of 16 non-SCLCs. Mutational analysis in semaphorin A(V) revealed mutations (germ line in one case) in 3 of 40 lung cancers. Our data suggest the need to determine the function of human semaphorins A(V) and IV in nonneural tissues and their role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.

Amino Acid Sequence↗