X chromosome inactivation in
cervical cancer patients is evaluated
(National Hospital of
Norway-November 26, 2003)
According to a study from
Norway, "Development of cervical carcinomas is strongly associated with
presence of human papilloma virus (HPV). Recently we found that young
patients with breast cancer had a higher frequency of skewed X inactivation
in peripheral blood cells, indicating an effect of X-linked genes on breast
cancer development.
"In this study, we investigated the frequency of skewed X-inactivation
pattern in blood and tumor biopsies from patients with cervical cancer. No
difference in the frequency of skewed X inactivation in blood was found
between 142 patients and 437 age-matched controls," wrote M. Kristiansen and
colleagues, National Hospital of Norway, Department of Medical Genetics.
"Elderly females have a higher frequency of skewed X inactivation in blood
cells than younger females. An age effect was confirmed in this study for
blood cells in both patients and controls. A tendency to an age effect was
also found in the tumor biopsies," the researchers wrote.
"The correlation between X inactivation in blood and biopsies was 0.39
(p<.001), showing that the X inactivation in
biopsies to some degree
reflects skewing in blood. Furthermore, of eight patients with a skewing of
greater than or equal to 75% in biopsies, seven patients had a skewing in
the same direction in their blood cells (p=.03)," they added.
"Our results indicate that if X-inactivation analysis is to be used in
clonality studies of cervical cancers, it is essential to consider both the
age and the X-inactivation pattern in blood cells," the researchers
concluded.
Kristiansen and colleagues published the results of their research in Cancer
Genetics and Cytogenetics (X chromosome inactivation in cervical cancer
patients. Cancer Genet Cytogenet, 2003;146(1):73-76).
For additional information, contact M. Kristiansen, National Hospital of
Norway, Department of Medical Genetics, Oslo, Norway.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of
Oncology and Gynecology. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors
from staff and other reports.
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