Mutation of the DR5/TRAIL receptor 2 gene is infrequent in hepatocellular carcinoma

Chromosome 8p21-22 is a frequent site of loss of heterozygosity in many types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2/DR5), a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor family, is mapped to chromosome 8p21-22. Mutations of TRAIL-R2 have been detected in lung cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we analyzed the entire coding regions and all splicing sites of TRAIL-R2 in 40 HCCs and the death domain region in additional 60 HCCs. We could detect one point mutation in the death domain in only one HCC (1%). Our data suggest that somatic mutations of TRAIL-R2 gene do not play an important role in the carcinogenesis of HCC.