Abstract
Conclusions. In the samples of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck region studied, mutations of exon 2 were quite rare. In contrast to the other three mutations, the G to C transversion on position 169 (Ala57Pro) has been found in several other studies before. Further investigations on mutations of the other exons 1α, 1β and 3 are necessary.
Objective. Alterations of p16INK4A have been found in different types of human cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to perform a screening for alterations of exon 2 of different SCCs of the head and neck region.
Methods. Forty samples of different SCCs of the head and neck were collected by biopsy or surgical resection. Exon 2 was amplified by using the primers 5′-GGTGAGGGGGCTCTACACAAG-3′ and 5′-GTCTCCCGGGCTGAACTTTC-3′. DNA was sequenced with the primer 5′-CGGGCTGAACTTTCTGTGCT-3′.
Results. Mutations were found in 4 of our 40 samples. One sample showed a G to C transversion on position 169 (Ala57Pro), a second sample from the same patient confirmed the latter transition but also contained a transition C to T on position 179 (Ala60Val). Another patient showed an already known polymorphism, a transition G to A at position 442 (Ala148Thr). The third case was a transversion C to A on position 213 (Asn71Lys).