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A TaqI RFLP of the human TGFα gene is significantly associated with cutaneous malignant melanoma
Author(s) -
Hayward Nicholas,
Nancarrow Derek,
Ellem Kay,
Parsons Peter,
Kidson Chev
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910420415
Subject(s) - taqi , restriction fragment length polymorphism , locus (genetics) , loss of heterozygosity , melanoma , allele , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , allele frequency , cancer research , genetics , gene , genotype
A Taql restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the human transforming growth factor alpha (hTGFα) locus was analyzed in DNA from 63 normal individuals, 34 malignant melanoma (MM) cell lines, and 18 melanoma biopsy specimens. The frequency of a 2.7‐kb allele (0.18) in MM cell lines was significantly higher P < 0.01) than in lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from unaffected controls (0.05). The frequency (0.14) in MM biopsies was similar to that in MM cell lines although, owing to the small numbers investigated, it was not significantly higher than in controls. In the case of 5 MM patients who were constitutionally heterozygous for alleles at the TGFα locus, no apparent losses of heterozygosity were observed in the corresponding tumour DNA. Thus, the constitutional presence of the 2.7‐kb allele may be a risk factor for melanoma.