ABSTRACT
Ovarian carcinomas (OCs), particularly recurrent OCs, are frequently resistant to transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-mediated growth inhibition. Mutations in the TGF-beta receptor type II (TbetaR-II) gene are only evident in a minority of OCs, suggesting that other alterations of the TGF-beta signaling pathway may be involved in OC. Using PCR, cold single-strand conformation polymorphism, and DNA sequencing, we now show that 33% of primary OCs (10 of 30) harbor somatic changes in exons 2, 3, 4, and 6 of the TGF-beta receptor I (TbetaR-I) gene. Most of the changes are missense mutations and clustered largely in the catalytic domain of the receptor kinase. Interestingly, seven additional cases (23.3%) showed heterozygous carriers of an allelic variant [a 9-nucleotide deletion, del(GGC)(3)] in exon 1 of the TbetaR-I gene. This is in contrast with 10.6% of del(GGC)(3) heterozygous carriers in a recent report of a large normal population (n = 735; B. Pasche et al., Cancer Res., 59: 5678-5682, 1999). These results indicate that TbetaR-I is frequently mutated in OC and suggest that resistance to TGF-beta-mediated growth inhibition may frequently involve alterations of the TbetaR-I gene.
Subject(s)
Mutation , Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics , Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alleles , Exons , Female , Gene Deletion , Germ-Line Mutation , Humans , Middle Aged , Mutation, Missense , Paraffin Embedding , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational , Protein Structure, Tertiary/geneticsABSTRACT
Kentucky radiologic technologists were surveyed regarding their interest in and need for additional education to acquire credentials in advanced imaging areas. The survey results indicated that technologists are interested in pursuing advanced programs of study that would produce multicompetent practitioners. The results also indicated that radiology managers prefer to hire multicompetent individuals.