Mutational analyses of candidate genes in human squamous cell carcinomas

OBJECTIVES AND STUDY DESIGN: Squamous cell carcinomas are common malignancies and a major cause of mortality. The molecular mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis remain largely unknown, but sequence alterations have been identified in coding regions of several genes. Primary squamous cell carcinomas of various tissues (skin, head and neck, esophagus, lung, penis, uterus, and vagina) from 52 patients were analyzed for the presence of mutations within several candidate genes presumably involved in tumorigenesis: Gsalpha, Gi2alpha, GTPase activating protein (GAP), and patched (PTCH) genes. METHODS: Mutational analysis scheme included polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), single stranded conformational polymorphism (SSCP), and selected sequence analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No tumor had any evidence of mutations in any of these analyzed genes. Mutations within these genes do not occur frequently in an unselected population of patients with squamous cell carcinomas.