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Atypically low spontaneous sister chromatid exchange formation in uveal melanoma
Author(s) -
Hoh Leslie,
Gravells Polly,
Canovas David,
UlHassan Aliya,
Rennie Ian G.,
Bryant Helen,
Sisley Karen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
genes, chromosomes and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.754
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1098-2264
pISSN - 1045-2257
DOI - 10.1002/gcc.20829
Subject(s) - sister chromatid exchange , sister chromatids , melanoma , cancer research , mutation , pathogenesis , biology , cancer , germline mutation , genetics , immunology , gene , dna , chromosome
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular cancer of adults and is characterized by several well‐established chromosomal changes. More recently, a specific mutation of guanine nucleotide binding protein Gq alpha subunit (GNAQ) has also been identified in a proportion of UM. Although some of these alterations have been suggested to be early changes, the genetic alterations responsible for the development of UM have yet to be clearly determined. Cancers are characterized by increased genetic instability, and analysis of established cancer cell lines and blood from cancer patients has universally been associated with an increased level of sister chromatid exchange (SCE). We have observed that the spontaneous frequency of SCE in primary cultures of UM and UM‐derived cell lines is decreased below normal baseline levels, a phenomenon unique to UM when compared with multiple other cancers. This finding was specific to the tumor and not found in lymphocytes from the patients. Although we cannot exclude the possibility that low SCE (LSCE) is peculiar to the uveal melanocytes lineage, as it was consistently observed in all UM studied, regardless of other genetic defects, we propose that this phenomenon contributes to the molecular pathogenesis of UM. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.