Biomedical subjects

C D James

Publications and source records attributed to C D James.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1998

Gene amplification as a prognostic factor in primary and secondary high-grade malignant gliomas.

The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of gene amplification in patients with primary (de novo) and secondary high-grade gliomas (gliomas evolving from lower grade malignancies) and to assess its prognostic significance. A total of 186 prospectively collected frozen surgical specimens were analyzed. Extracted DNA was examined by Southern blot using probes corresponding to the EGFR, CDK4, MDM2, n-MYC, CYCD1, PDGFR-alpha, MET, c-MYC oncogenes. Complete clinical data regarding age, sex, tumor size, extent of surgical resection, postoperative therapy and patient survival were collected. We showed that EGFR followed by CDK4 were the most frequent oncogene amplifications. Oncogene amplification events were significantly more frequent in grade 4 than in grade 3 astrocytomas, mixed gliomas or oligodendrogliomas (P<0.001). With respect to EGFR, there was a significant difference in the frequency of amplification between primary and secondary gliomas (P=0.001); however, no difference in the amplification frequency of the other oncogenes was observed. There was no apparent correlation between the occurrence of gene amplification and patient survival, possibly because the genes amplified in human gliomas are part of larger signaling pathways.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

PTEN/MMAC1 mutations and EGFR amplification in glioblastomas.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) from chromosome 10 is a hallmark of glioblastoma, the most malignant (grade IV) form of glioma. A candidate tumor suppressor gene, PTEN/MMAC1, that may be targeted for deletion in association with chromosome 10 LOH has recently been identified. Here we have investigated 63 glioblastomas for PTEN/MMAC1 alterations and identified DNA sequence changes that would affect the encoded protein in 17 (27%) tumors. Microsatellite analyses of normal-tumor DNA pairs were performed on 14 of these cases and revealed LOH at locations flanking and/or near PTEN/MMAC1 in all but 1 instance, suggesting that deletion of the remaining wild-type allele had occurred in the large majority of tumors with PTEN/MMAC1 mutations. Competitive PCR assays were developed to address the possible occurrence of PTEN/MMAC1 homozygous deletions in glioblastomas, and this analysis identified three samples having loss of both PTEN/MMAC1 alleles. EGFR amplification was determined to occur at similar frequencies among cases with or without PTEN/MMAC1 homozygous deletions or mutations, suggesting that a growth-promoting effect resulting from amplification-associated increases in epidermal growth factor receptor signaling is not necessarily dependent on the inactivation of PTEN/MMAC1.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed1997

Sporadic medulloblastomas contain PTCH mutations.

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), or Gorlin's syndrome, is an autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes to developmental defects and various forms of cancer. PTCH was recently proposed as a candidate gene for NBCCS due to its frequent mutation in basal cell carcinomas, the cancer most often associated with this syndrome. Another NBCCS-associated cancer is medulloblastoma, a common central nervous system tumor in children. Most medulloblastomas, however, occur without indication of an inherited predisposition. We have examined 24 sporadic medulloblastomas for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at loci flanking as well as within PTCH. In cases with LOH, single-strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing analysis were performed to determine the status of the remaining PTCH allele. Microsatellite analysis indicated LOH of PTCH in 5 of 24 tumors, and in three of these cases a mutation of the remaining allele was identified. Two of the mutations were duplication insertions, and the third consisted of a single base deletion. It is interesting that all three mutations occur in exon 17 of the PTCH gene. These data suggest that inactivation of PTCH function is involved in the development of at least a subset of sporadic medulloblastomas.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9↗

PubMed1996

Molecular genetics and molecular biology advances in brain tumors.

As the genes that regulate cell growth and proliferation are being identified and their encoded proteins characterized, our understanding of the molecular basis of tumor development is expanding rapidly. This review focuses on recent studies examining alterations of growth-regulatory genes in brain tumors, including those involving the inactivation of gene products that normally suppress cell growth (tumor-suppressor genes) or those involving the activation of gene products that promote cell growth (oncogenes) and presents information concerning the molecular biology associated with these changes.

Brain Neoplasms↗

PubMed1996

Common alternative gene alterations in adult malignant astrocytomas, but not in childhood primitive neuroectodermal tumors: P 16ink4 homozygous deletions and CDK4 gene amplifications.

Alterations in P16ink4 or in the gene encoding one of its ligands, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), have been reported in human glioma cell lines and primary tumors but not in primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. In this study the authors have examined DNA from 20 primary PNETs in children and from 20 malignant astrocytomas to assess the frequency of P16ink4 and CDK4 gene alterations associated with each type of tumor. Southern hybridization analysis revealed homozygous P16ink4 deletions in one (5%) of 20 PNETs and in seven (35%) of 20 malignant astrocytomas. The CDK4 gene amplification was evident in two additional astrocytomas, but not in any of the PNETs. In total, nine astrocytomas (45%) exhibited homozygous P16ink4 deletion or CDK4 gene amplification, but only one PNET (5%) demonstrated either gene alteration. These results indicate that the incidence of P16ink4 and CDK4 gene alterations in these two groups of tumors is different and suggest distinct pathogenetic etiologies may be associated with each neoplasm.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Transfection of IFNalpha in human glioblastoma cells and tumorigenicity in association with induction of PKR and OAS gene expression.

Previously these authors and others demonstrated frequent homozygous deletions of the chromosome 9p-localized class I interferon (IFN) gene cluster in glioblastoma tumors and cell lines. To investigate the biological effects of class I IFN gene transfer and constitutive expression in glioblastoma cells devoid of this gene cluster, the authors have developed a stable IFNalpha "transfectant" of the cell line U118. The expression of IFNalpha protein in the U118 transfectant clone is associated with decreased levels of DNA synthesis exhibited by cultures of transfected cells, reduced colony-forming ability in soft agar, and loss of tumorigenicity in athymic nude mice. To address the molecular consequences of constitutive IFNalpha synthesis, they examined the expression of four genes whose transcription has been shown to be responsive to IFN-mediated signal transduction and could be important to the observed antiproliferative and antitumor effects. Northern blot analysis revealed that changes in the levels of messenger (m)RNA for two of these genes, c-myc and mhc class I, are minor. However, mRNAs for oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) as well as double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), which are not expressed in parental U118 cells, were constitutively expressed in IFNalpha transfectants. These results indicate a differential responsiveness among these four genes to constitutive IFNalpha expression, and suggest that the suppression of U118-transformed phenotypes by IFNalpha transfection may be mediated by the induction of specific IFN response genes thought to have a negative growth-regulatory function.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

PubMed1995

Lack of p16INK4 or retinoblastoma protein (pRb), or amplification-associated overexpression of cdk4 is observed in distinct subsets of malignant glial tumors and cell lines.

In this study the expression of p16INK4, retinoblastoma protein (pRb), and cdk4 proteins have been examined in 18 malignant glioma cell lines and in 45 malignant glial tumors. Loss of p16INK4 expression associated with p16INK4 gene homozygous deletion was evident in 12 cell lines and in 10 primary tumors. Lack of p16INK4 expression was also evident in five tumors for which there was no evidence of p16INK4 gene homozygous deletion. Two of the cell lines and six of the primary tumors in which p16INK4 was present were determined to overexpress cdk4 in association with CDK4 gene amplification. Absence of pRb was determined in two of the cell lines and in ten of the tumors. In total, 16 of 18 cell lines and 25 of 45 tumors showed either a lack of p16INK4 or pRb or amplification-associated overexpression of cdk4. Two additional tumors showed an absence of pRb and p16INK4, and one tumor showed a lack of pRb combined with amplification-associated overexpression of cdk4. These results suggest a common growth-regulatory mechanism that is disrupted in gliomas by either suppressing the expression of p16INK4 or pRb or by increasing the expression of cdk4.

Blotting, Western↗

PubMed1995

Altered subcellular location of an activated and tumour-associated epidermal growth factor receptor.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is a membrane bound tyrosine kinase whose activity is initiated by ligand binding. The malignant brain tumour glioblastoma frequently shows amplification and rearrangements of the EGF receptor gene that are associated with the synthesis of a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase, lacking amino acids 6-273 near the protein's N-terminus. When expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, this mutant receptor (p140EGFR) displays ligand-independent tyrosine kinase activity, stimulates DNA synthesis, and promotes cell proliferation. Here, we investigate the subcellular location of p140EGFR in CHO cell transfectants as well as in human glioblastoma tumours. p140EGFR had an intracellular location that contrasted sharply with the plasma membrane location of the wild-type EGF receptor. Endoglycosidase H sensitivity analysis and the pattern of p140EGFR immunoreactivity suggested that the aberrant tyrosine kinase resided primarily in the endoplasmic reticulum. The half-life of p140EGFR in the endoplasmic reticulum was extended several-fold over that of the ligand-activated wild-type receptor. The altered subcellular location of p140EGFR in combination with its prolonged half-life suggest that this activated tyrosine kinase may escape the regulatory mechanisms utilized for the attenuation of wild-type receptor signaling. Therefore, the previously reported growth stimulatory property of the ligand-independent p140EGFR may be attributed to a sustained tyrosine kinase activity resulting from an altered subcellular location.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Reliability of differential PCR for the detection of EGFR and MDM2 gene amplification in DNA extracted from FFPE glioma tissue.

A series of 43 human gliomas, consisting of 30 glioblastomas, 7 anaplastic astrocytomas, 3 low grade astrocytomas, 2 ependymomas, and 1 oligodendroglioma, was studied for amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) genes. DNA extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections was analyzed by differential PCR and the results were compared with slot blot examination of DNA extracted from frozen tissue from the same neoplasms. Twelve glioblastomas (40%) showed amplification of the EGFR gene, and overexpression of EGFR was evident in each of these tumors as indicated by the immunoperoxidase technique. Two of the tumors with EGFR gene amplification also revealed amplification of the MDM2 gene, while one additional glioblastoma revealed MDM2 amplification only. A 100% concordance in the detection of amplification was observed between differential PCR and slot blot analysis; consequently, these results indicate that differential PCR using DNA extracted from archival tissue sections is a reliable method of demonstrating gene amplifications in glial tumors.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor gene amplification and alteration in stereotactic biopsies of brain tumors.

In recent years, results from molecular-based investigations of central nervous system neoplasms have indicated that the occurrence of specific genetic alterations correlates with tumor malignancy and clinical behavior. One such example is epidermal growth factor receptor gene amplification and alteration in association with tumors histologically classified as glioblastoma multiforme. As our understanding of the implications of these changes develops, detection of epidermal growth factor receptor alteration and amplification may have diagnostic, prognostic, and ultimately, therapeutic value. The goal of this communication is to demonstrate the usefulness of stereotactic specimens for molecular genetic analysis, in this case, the analysis of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene for amplification and alterations. The techniques used here will maximize the number of cases from which useful information can be obtained. Properly adapted, the value of these techniques for expanding our understanding of these lesions is enormous.

Biopsy↗

PubMed1995

Homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 (MTS1/p16ink4) gene in cell lines established from children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Homozygous deletions of the CDKN2 (MTS1/p16ink4) gene have been found at high frequency in cell lines derived from a variety of adult solid tumors. In order to investigate the status of the CDKN2 gene in cell lines established from childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), we surveyed 25 lines representing the major pediatric ALL phenotypes for the presence of this gene by Southern blot analysis. Homozygous deletions of all or part of the CDKN2 gene were detected in 21 (84%) cell lines, including 11 of 14 (79%) early-pre-B-ALL, four of five (80%) pre-B-ALL, and six of six T-ALL lines. CDN2 mRNA was detected by Northern blotting in each of the four lines containing an intact CDKN2 gene. These data suggest an important role for CDKN2 deletion in the cause and/or progression of pediatric ALL.

Blotting, Northern↗

PubMed1994

CDK4 amplification is an alternative mechanism to p16 gene homozygous deletion in glioma cell lines.

Recently, it has been shown that a gene encoding the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitory protein, p16, is frequently targeted for homozygous deletions in several types of tumor cell lines, including those established from malignant gliomas. Here we have examined 32 glioma cell lines for amplification-associated overexpression of the CDK4 gene as an alternative mechanism for abrogating the growth-regulatory effects of p16. Two of the cell lines revealed high-level expression of CDK4 in association with gene amplification, and this alteration was observed among the 10 cases having intact p16 genes. Consequently, 24 of 32 glioma cell lines revealed one of two alternative genetic alterations, each of which indicates that increased cdk4 kinase activity is important to glial tumor development.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1994

A common region of homozygous deletion in malignant human gliomas lies between the IFN alpha/omega gene cluster and the D9S171 locus.

Deletions of the 9p-localized type-I interferon (IFN) genes and adjacent loci often occur during the development of malignant glioma. We have applied restriction fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite analysis to 12 loci covering this region of 9p and 3 loci on 9q in 74 human glial tumor tissues to define and further localize the smallest region of hemizygous or homozygous deletion common to the tumors. Three regions of homozygous deletion were evident among the panel of tumors; only one of these, however, residing between D9S171 and the IFN alpha/omega gene cluster, was involved in multiple cases (13 glioblastomas). Hemizygous deletion of this same region was observed in an additional 27 tumors. In total these data indicate the frequent inactivation of a novel tumor suppressor gene residing adjacent to and centromeric of the type-I IFN genes in malignant gliomas.

Alleles↗

PubMed1994

Analysis of glioma cell lines for amplification and overexpression of MDM2.

Recently, amplification of the gene encoding a p53 binding protein, MDM2, was determined in 8% of the cases constituting a large series of glioblastomas. Here we have utilized Southern blot analysis to examine 30 cell lines established from such tumors, and our investigation has revealed large increases in MDM2 gene dosage in two cases, one of which showed coamplification of the CDK4 gene that resides in close proximity to MDM2 in chromosomal region 12q13-14. Northern analysis demonstrated overexpression of MDM2 mRNA in the two cell lines with gene amplification, and overexpression of MDM2 protein was evident in each of these by immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis. Analysis of TP53 cDNAs revealed normal TP53 sequences in the cell lines with MDM2 amplification; these results are consistent with those of previous studies suggesting that MDM2 amplification occurs only in tumors expressing wild-type p53. In total, these data suggest that MDM2 amplification in glioblastoma cell lines occurs at a frequency (6.7%) comparable to that determined in primary tumors; occurs in cell lines expressing wild-type p53; and can involve the coamplification of additional genes.

Gene Amplification↗

PubMed1994

Head trauma in children with congenital coagulation disorders.

Bleeding is the most frequent cause of death in children with congenital coagulation disorders, and intracranial (IC) hemorrhage accounts for the majority of mortality in all age groups. Even minor head trauma may produce significant IC pathology. Immediate diagnosis and rapid medical management are mandatory if morbidity and mortality are to be minimized. Although computed tomographic (CT) scans provide accurate diagnostic information, reliable criteria for the use of this expensive technology in children with hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease have not been defined. In this study the clinical symptoms and the time of initial assessment and therapy of head-injured children with congenital coagulopathies were evaluated and correlated with CT findings. Between 1985 and 1992, 123 patients with hemophilia A, hemophilia B, or von Willebrand's's disease received follow-up at this institution. One hundred nine episodes of head injury were recorded in 43 patients, and 66 CT scans were obtained. The most frequent mechanism of injury was a simple fall at play (62%). Only 5 patients had an IC injury demonstrable with CT (4.5% of 110 episodes). Vomiting was reported in 4 of 5 patients with IC hemorrhage (ICH), and all 5 presented with an altered mental status (Glasgow coma scale [GCS] (mean) = 10) and focal neurological deficit. These findings were infrequently observed (vomiting, 5 of 105; GCS (mean) = 15; neurological deficits 0 of 105) in children who either did not undergo CT or whose CT scan results were normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Molecular genetic analysis of oligodendroglial tumors shows preferential allelic deletions on 19q and 1p.

The molecular genetic alterations of oligodendroglial tumors and mixed gliomas of the central nervous system were studied in a series of 37 cases (8 oligodendrogliomas, 13 anaplastic oligodendrogliomas, 8 oligoastrocytomas, and 8 anaplastic oligoastrocytomas). A total of 180 polymorphic loci and 5 nonpolymorphic gene loci, distributed over all chromosomes, were examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Loss of heterozygosity was most frequently observed for loci on 19q with a commonly deleted region at 19q13.2-q13.4 distal to the CYP2a gene and proximal to the D19S22 locus. The incidence of allelic loss on 19q was particularly high (81%) in oligodendroglial tumors and equal to 31% in mixed gliomas. More than 75% of the tumors with allelic deletions on 19q also showed loss of heterozygosity for loci on 1p with one tumor showing only loss of alleles distal to the NGFB gene (1p13-pter). Seven (19%) tumors had lost alleles from 17p with the deleted region including the TP53 tumor suppressor gene in all cases. Sequencing of the TP53 transcripts from exons 2 to 10, however, did not reveal mutations of the remaining allele in any of these tumors. Anaplastic oligodendrogliomas and anaplastic oligoastrocytomas demonstrated an increased incidence of additional allelic losses involving most frequently chromosomes 9p and 10. Gene amplification was detected in two anaplastic tumors, affecting the epidermal growth factor receptor gene in both cases, with additional amplification of the renin gene at 1q32 in one of these cases. In total our results indicate both differences and similarities between the molecular genetic alterations in tumors with oligodendroglial and astrocytic differentiation. The loss of genetic information from 19q and 1p as well as the rarity of TP53 mutations in oligodendroglial tumors suggests that the early events in their oncogenesis are distinct from those associated with astrocytic tumors. However, similarities are indicated by the allelic losses on 9p and 10 in the anaplastic tumors, suggesting the utilization of common pathways of progression.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Functional characterization of an EGF receptor with a truncated extracellular domain expressed in glioblastomas with EGFR gene amplification.

The most common type of alteration of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR) in human glioblastomas results in the synthesis of an aberrant mRNA lacking 801 bases that encode amino acids 6-273 of the receptor's extracellular domain. To study the effects of this mutation on receptor function, we have developed chinese hamster ovary cell transfectants which express the mutant EGF receptor. Comparison of wild-type and mutant receptor properties in this cell host indicates that the truncated receptor does not bind EGF or TGF-alpha and, consequently, DNA synthesis is not stimulated in cultures of mutant transfectants by either grown factor. However, levels of DNA synthesis determined for mutant transfectants in serum-free media are several-fold higher than those determined for corresponding cultures of wild-type transfectants. Western blot analysis with anti-phosphotyrosine antibody indicates that the mutant receptor is constitutively phosphorylated in CHO cells, and the same analysis applied to lysates of glioblastoma biopsies reveals the altered receptor is readily detectable as a phosphotyrosine protein in tumors for which there is evidence of corresponding EGFR gene and transcript alterations. In total, these results indicate that the aberrant EGF receptor synthesized in glioblastomas, and which lacks a portion of the extracellular domain necessary for ligand binding, is an activated tyrosine kinase.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Localization of chromosome 9p homozygous deletions in glioma cell lines with markers constituting a continuous linkage group.

Southern blot analyses of the 9p-localized type I interferon (IFN) genes in DNAs obtained from malignant glioma cell lines and glial tumor tissue have indicated that homozygous deletions of the IFN-alpha and IFN-beta genes often occur during the development of the highly malignant central nervous system neoplasm, glioblastoma. We have applied a set of markers that span the IFN region on 9p to the analysis of DNAs from 30 human glioma cell lines in order to define the region of homozygous deletion associated with this cancer more precisely. Fourteen of the cell lines revealed either complete (12 cases) or partial (2 cases) homozygous deletions of the IFN-alpha gene cluster; no instances of homozygous deletions were observed that did not involve the IFN-alpha region. Genomic DNA identified by the markers nearest to and flanking the IFN-alpha genes were retained in 5 of the cases with homozygous deletions. Consequently, these results limit the extent of homozygous deletions in glioma cell lines to a small region of 9p21-p22 that includes most of the type I IFN locus.

Base Sequence↗