KIT activation in uterine cervix adenosquamous carcinomas by KIT/SCF autocrine/paracrine stimulation loops

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Fernando Schmitt (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Gynecologic Oncology

Vol. 111

Pages: 350-355

ISSN: 0090-8258

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 15 Citations

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Pathological anatomy

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-V4J

DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2008.07.011

Abstract (EN): Objectives. Uterine adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is an uncommon, yet, one of the most aggressive cervical cancer subtype. The successful treatment of some tumors, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), by anti-KIT inhibitors fosters the study of this receptor tyrosine kinase in other malignancies. In the present study, we intended to molecularly characterize KIT in ASC. Methods. In a series of 30 cases, we studied KIT (CD117), KIT phosphorylated/activated form, as well as KIT ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), by immunohistochemistry. We further screened for KIT hotspot mutations (exon 9, 11, 13 and 17) by PCR-SSCP and for KIT gene amplification by Quantitative real-time PCR in CD117 positive cases. Results. We observed CD117 expression in similar to 13% of cases, with similar to 7% co-expressing SCF, which resulted in KIT phosphorylation/activation. No KIT activating mutations or gene amplification were found, despite the presence of 4q aneuploidy in one case. Conclusions. This is the first study assessing KIT activation and molecular alterations in a large series of rare ASC. Our findings showed the absence of KIT molecular alterations and suggested the presence of KIT activation in a small proportion of cases through KIT/SCF co-expression.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6