ABSTRACT
Abnormalities of some oncogenes, antioncogenes and losses of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome 11p, 17p, and 17q in colorectal carcinomas (CC) was studied. Amplification of ERBB-1/HER-1 oncogene was detected in 2 of 56 cases; ERBB-2/HER-2- in 4 of 62. There was a lack of evidence for C-MYC oncogene amplification (67 cases). LOH of chromosome 11p (HRAS-1 probe) was found in 2 of 37 informative (heterozygous) cases; such events were not accompanied by point mutations in "hot" codons (12th or 61st) in the remaining allele. Prevalence of A3 and A4 alleles of HRAS-1 oncogene (68 cases) as compared to healthy donors was noted. RB-1 (41 cases) and p53 (62 cases) suppressor genes did not show any alterations in Southern-blot analysis. LOH of chromosome 17p (YNZ-22 probe) was found in 15 of 26 heterozygous CC; 17q (THH-59 probe)--in 4 of 16. Analysis of 175th codon of p53 gene revealed only one case of mutation in 35 CC studied. Finally, we were able to detect genetic alterations in 23 of 40 (58%) CC, that were studied on each parameter using Southern-blot. We failed to find any correlation between various molecular abnormalities or clinical characteristics. The data obtained are in disagreement with the view concerning frequent involvement of p53 antioncogene in chromosome 17p deletions.
