Highly expressed in cancer (Hec 1), locating at centromere during cell mitosis, plays an important role in the pathway of spindle checkpoint. Hec 1-Nuf 2 complex is the structural basis for the recruitment of Mad 1/Mad 2 complex of spindle checkpoint. Hec 1 can interact with the subunit of 26S proteasome and inhibit the degradation of cyclins. It was initially identified as a protein interacting with Rb by yeast two-hybridization assay. Rb interacts with Hec 1 to regulate the binding ability of Smc 1 with DNA and participates in the regulation of M phase. Hec 1 mainly expresses at G2/M phase and functions through the phosphorylation by kinase Nek 2. Hec 1 is over expressed in some cancer cell lines and amplified in tumor tissues. The dysfunction of Hec 1 gene may cause severe impediment of chromosome separation and finally lead to chromosome instability, which is closely associated with the occurrence and development of tumors. Therefore, Hec 1 may become a new target of tumor gene therapy.
Chromosomal Instability ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between CpG island methylator phenotype(CIMP) and genetic instability in sporadic colorectal cancer(SCRC).

METHODSSeventy-one SCRC patients were enrolled in this study. Promotor methylation status of five genes including P14(ARF ), hMLH1, P16(INK4a), MGMT and MINT1 was detected with methylation specific PCR to confirm CIMP. Microsatellite instability (MSI) status was evaluated with two microsatellite loci of BAT25 and BAT26, and the ploidy was detected with flow cytometry. The association between CIMP and MSI as well as chromosomal instability(CIN) was examined.

RESULTSThe positive rates of CIMP, MSI and aneuploidy were 21.1% (15/71), 9.9% (7/71) and 73.5% (50/68) respectively. The positive rate of MSI in positive CIMP patients was higher than that in negative CIMP ones, but the difference was not significant (20.0% vs 7.1%,P=0.158). The positive rate of MSI was 57.1% in patients with hMLH1 gene promotor hypermethylation, which was significantly higher than that (4.7%) in patients without hMLH1 gene promotor hypermethylation (P=0.001). SCRCs with positive CIMP displayed significant inclination of diploidy (P=0.003). The positive rate of diploidy among SCRCs with CIMP was 61.5% while only 18.2% of cases without CIMP demonstrated diploid.

CONCLUSIONSSCRCs with positive CIMP are significantly more likely to be diploid. Simultaneous multiple genes hypermethylation represented by CIMP may be an epigenetic mechanism competing with the genetic mechanism of CIN.

Chromosomal Instability ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Microsatellite Instability ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo detect the germline polymorphic variations of Bat26 in Chinese and its significance in microsatellite instability (MSI) study of gastric cancers.

METHODSBat26 was analyzed by PCR-based denatured polyacrymide gel electrophoresis-silver stain method in peripheral blood from 389 healthy people and 34 gastric cancers with matched normal mucosa. Eleven other microsatellite loci were also detected for gastric cancers.

RESULT(1) No Bat26 variations were identified in 423 genomic DNA from peripheral blood or normal mucosa by polyacrymide gel electrophoresis. (2) Two MSI-H cancers, oth Bat26+, were detected in 34 cases of gastric cancer. The alterations of Bat26 and MSI-H status were identical (P<0.05). (3) Compared with those of RER-cancers, MSI-H (RER+)cancers showed more obvious infiltration of intraepithelial lymphocytes and peri-tumoral lymphocytes, and more pushing borders (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION(1) The germline polymorphisms of Bat26 in Chinese people are quasimonomorphic. Thus, no matched genomic DNA is needed while Bat26 was selected for tumor MSI analysis. (2) Bat26 is an independent indicator of MSI-H gastric cancers with distinct clinicopathological features.

Chromosomal Instability ; genetics ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genetic instability in patients with Dyskeration congenita.

METHODSThe spontaneous chromosome instability of lymphocytes from 4 DC patients, 29 FA patients and 24 healthy volunteers was assessed with comet assay. The percent of DNA in comet head (HeadDNA%）, the percent of DNA in comet tail (TailDNA%）, tail moment (TM), olive tail moment (OTM), the comet cell percentage (CCP) were compared between groups. And the results of MMC test, PNH clones and karotype were analysed additionally. The correlation between TM, OTM, CCP and the severity degree of bone marrow failure in DC group were evaluated.

RESULTS①PNH clones and karotype abnormalities were not found in 4 DC patients. ②TM (6.77 ± 0.90), OTM（6.19 ± 0.80) and CCP [(46.00 ± 5.03) %] in DC were significantly higher than those in normal control group [0.61 ± 0.49, 0.66 ± 0.42, (5.91 ± 3.19)%, P<0.05], however, not distinguished from FA patients [7.81 ± 3.58, 6.65 ± 2.21, (56.03 ± 13.47) %, P ≥ 0.05]. The aberrant cell percent at the MMC concentration of 80 μg/L in DC group was significantly lower than that in FA group [(21.00 ± 3.16) % vs (31.97 ± 6.33)%, P=0.003]. ③The correlation between TM, OTM, CCP and the severity of bone marrow failure in DC group were not found (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONDC patients were of significantly increased genetic instability and normal DNA repair, which was different from that in FA patients. And there was no correlation between the degree of genetic instability and the severity of bone marrow failure in DC patients presenting as aplastic anemia.

Case-Control Studies ; Chromosomal Instability ; Comet Assay ; Dyskeratosis Congenita ; genetics ; Fanconi Anemia ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Pancytopenia

The extensive study of genetic alterations in colorectal cancer (CRC) has led to molecular diagnostics playing an increasingly important role in CRC diagnosis and treatment. Currently, it is believed that CRC is a consequence of the accumulation of both genetic and epigenetic genomic alterations. It is known that there are at least 3 major pathways that lead to colorectal carcinogenesis: (1) the chromosomal instability pathway, (2) the microsatellite instability pathway, and (3) the cytosine-phospho-guanine island methylator phenotype pathway. With recent advances in CRC genetics, the identification of specific molecular alterations responsible for CRC pathogenesis has directly influences clinical care. Patients at high risk for developing CRC can be identified by genetic testing for specific molecular alterations, and the use of molecular biomarkers for predictive and prognostic purposes is also increasing. This is clearly supported by the recent advances in genetic testing for CRC whereby specific molecular alterations are identified for the purpose of guiding treatment with targeting therapies such as anti-endothelial growth factor receptor monoclonal antibodies.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Biomarkers ; Carcinogenesis ; Chromosomal Instability ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Diagnosis ; Epigenomics ; Genetic Testing ; Genetics* ; Humans ; Microsatellite Instability ; Pathology, Molecular ; Phenotype

The molecular genetics of colorectal carcinomas are among the best understood of common human cancers. Three inter-related molecular pathways are involved. The chromosomal instability pathway begins with inactivation of the APC/beta-catenin genes followed by activation of oncogenes and inactivation of additional suppressor genes, commonly with high frequency of allelic losses, cytogenetic abnormalities. The microsatellite instability pathway begins with inactivating one of a group of genes responsible for DNA nucleotide mismatch repair leading to extensive mutations in both repetitive and non-repetitive DNA sequences with low frequencies of allelic losses and rare alteration of tumor DNA content. Finally, the CpG island methylation pathway involves inactivation of genes by methylation of cytosines in promoter regions to silence gene expression without DNA sequence alterations. Molecular genetics have the potential for clinical applications. Combination of genetic classification of high levels of microsatellite instability (MSI-H), gene expression analysis of mismatch repair genes and subsequent mutation analysis of inactivated genes can be used as an effective method for the identification of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma patients. Molecular genetic alterations have been proposed to be of prognostic value, including allelic deletion on chromosome 18q, and on chromosome 17p. MSI-H has been reported as a marker for better prognosis. Individualizing chemoradiation by use of predictive markers for response or resistance to therapy is important in patients with advanced disease or candidacy for adjuvant therapy.
Chromosomal Instability ; Colorectal Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics/pathology ; English Abstract ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats

As an important telomere binding protein, TPP1 protects the ends of telomeres and maintains the stability and integrity of its structure and function by interacting with other five essential core proteins (POT1, TRF1, TRF2, TIN2, and RAP1) to form a complex called Shelterin. Recently, researchers have discovered that TPP1 participates in protection of telomeres and regulation of telomerase activity. The relationship between TPP1 and tumorigenesis, tumor progression and treatment has also been investigated. This paper reviews the latest findings of TPP1 regarding to its structure, function and interaction with other proteins involved in tumorigenesis.
Chromosomal Instability ; DNA Damage ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; genetics ; Telomere ; Telomere-Binding Proteins ; chemistry ; physiology

Pulmonary carcinoids are infrequent neoplasms of the lung that normally display a less aggressive biological behavior compared to small cell and non-small cell lung cancers. Approximately 15-25% of carcinoids, in particular atypical carcinoids, show lymph node metastasis and have a worse prognosis than their non-metastasized counterparts. To date, there is no morphological or molecular marker that may help to differentiate between carcinoids that metastasize and carcinoids of identical differentiation that show only local tumor growth. In this study, we analyzed 7 metastasized and 10 non-metastasized pulmonary carcinoids for chromosomal and microsatellite instability in order to determine whether microsatellite instability or chromosomal imbalances are associated with metastasis. Due to the rare occurrence of metastasized carcinoids we compared our results of chromosomal instability with the hitherto published comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) profiles of pulmonary carcinoids, for which information about the absence or presence of metastasis was available. While microsatellite instability was not detected we found chromosomal instability as a common event in pulmonary carcinoids with an increase of frequency and extent of chromosomal alterations in atypical and metastasized carcinoids. These findings are in accordance with the collected and herein compiled data of previous studies and indicate increasing numbers of chromosomal imbalances to play a role in the sequential process of tumor development and metastasis.
Carcinoid Tumor/*genetics/pathology/*secondary ; Chromosomal Instability/*genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis

Pulmonary carcinoids are infrequent neoplasms of the lung that normally display a less aggressive biological behavior compared to small cell and non-small cell lung cancers. Approximately 15-25% of carcinoids, in particular atypical carcinoids, show lymph node metastasis and have a worse prognosis than their non-metastasized counterparts. To date, there is no morphological or molecular marker that may help to differentiate between carcinoids that metastasize and carcinoids of identical differentiation that show only local tumor growth. In this study, we analyzed 7 metastasized and 10 non-metastasized pulmonary carcinoids for chromosomal and microsatellite instability in order to determine whether microsatellite instability or chromosomal imbalances are associated with metastasis. Due to the rare occurrence of metastasized carcinoids we compared our results of chromosomal instability with the hitherto published comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) profiles of pulmonary carcinoids, for which information about the absence or presence of metastasis was available. While microsatellite instability was not detected we found chromosomal instability as a common event in pulmonary carcinoids with an increase of frequency and extent of chromosomal alterations in atypical and metastasized carcinoids. These findings are in accordance with the collected and herein compiled data of previous studies and indicate increasing numbers of chromosomal imbalances to play a role in the sequential process of tumor development and metastasis.
Carcinoid Tumor/*genetics/pathology/*secondary ; Chromosomal Instability/*genetics ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*genetics/pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between centrosome abnormalities and aneuploidy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms of chromosome instability (CIN) in OSCC.

METHODSFormalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 8 cases of normal oral epithelium and 32 cases of OSCC were examined for centrosome status by using indirect immunofluorescence staining, and chromosome instability (aneuploidy) in some tissues were detected by flow cytometry. The correlation between centrosome abnormalities and aneuploidy in OSCC was statistically analyzed by SPSS12.0.

RESULTSNormal oral epithelium showed normal size and number of centrosomes in epithelium cells, while 25 out of 32 cases of OSCC showed the evident centrosome amplification characterized by huge size and/or supernumerary centrosomes in a fraction of tumor cells, and 21 out of 32 cases were aneuploidy. The percentage of cases with abnormal centrosomes in aneuploid OSCC (19/21) was significantly higher than that in diploid OSCC(6/11) (P =0.032). Centrosome abnormality was significantly correlated with aneuploidy (Spearman r = 0.413, P = 0.047), and a positive correlation was found between the degree of centrosome amplification and the degree of DNA ploidy abnormality (Pearson r = 0.364, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONSCentrosome abnormality may be a contributing factor for chromosome instability in OSCC.

Aneuploidy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Centrosome ; pathology ; Chromosomal Instability ; Humans ; Mouth Mucosa ; pathology ; Mouth Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology