Beta-catenin activation through mutation is rare in rectal cancer

Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2001 Jul 1;128(1):43-5. doi: 10.1016/s0165-4608(01)00397-1.

Abstract

Increased transcriptional activation through beta-catenin stabilization plays a central role in colorectal tumorigenesis. Alterations of phosphorylation sites within the CTNNB1 gene, which codes for beta-catenin has been reported to occur in about one-half of colorectal tumors without APC-gene mutations. We assessed the importance of mutations in the regulatory domain, located within exon 3 of CTNNB1, in 103 rectal carcinomas and correlated these data with presence of microsatellite instability, somatic frame-shift alterations of the TCF-4 gene, and APC-gene mutations in the tumors. No mutation was detected in exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene and our results thus demonstrate that beta-catenin activation through mutation rarely contributes to the development of sporadic and microsatellite instability stable rectal cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / metabolism
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chromosome Aberrations / genetics*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • DNA Primers / chemistry
  • Female
  • Frameshift Mutation / genetics
  • Genes, APC / genetics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Rectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • Trans-Activators*
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • beta Catenin

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • DNA Primers
  • TCF Transcription Factors
  • TCF7L2 protein, human
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factor 7-Like 2 Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • beta Catenin