Cloning and characterisation of the RBCC728/TRIM36 zinc-binding protein from the tumor suppressor gene region at chromosome 5q22.3.

DNA alterations at chromosome 5q22 occur frequently in different types of tumors including urological cancers. Previously, we narrowed a common target region between loci D5S659 and D5S2055 at chromosome 5q22.3 by microsatellite allelotyping.

Unusual clinical manifestation of virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome.

A 22-year-old man presented with bilateral painless cervical lymphadenomegaly, difficulties in nasal breathing and bilateral conductive hearing loss. Rhinoscopy and computer tomography disclosed mucosal polyps in the nasal cavity and a polypoid soft mass almost completely filling the whole nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses. Thoracic and abdominal computer tomography showed mild hepatosplenomegaly and a solitary round lesion in the right lung.

Frequent allelic changes at chromosome 7q34 but lack of mutation of the BRAF in papillary renal cell tumors.

We have analyzed the BRAF locus on chromosome 7q34 with microsatellites for allelic changes and exons 11 and 15 of the BRAF with sequencing for mutations in 50 kidney cancers including 20 papillary, 15 conventional and 15 chromophobe renal cell carcinomas (RCC). Allelic changes at the BRAF locus were seen in 16 of the 20 papillary, 3 of the 15 conventional RCCs and 2 of the 15 chromophobe RCCs. Sequencing failed to disclose mutations in exons 11 and 15 of the BRAF gene in any of the tumors.

Detection of n-myc gene amplification in neuroblastoma by comparative, in situ,and real-time polymerase chain reaction.

We have used semiquantitative comparative and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions (PCR) to detect n-myc gene-amplification in 20 frozen neuroblastoma biopsies and IMR 32 cell line to predict biological behavior of the tumors. Two primer pairs were used for the semiquantitative method to co-amplify a 520-bp fragment of the beta-globin gene--used as a single copy reference standard--and a 258-bp fragment of the n-myc gene. After 30 cycles the PCR products were electrophoresed through an agarose gel and were compared to each other with use of a gel-densitometer.

[Detection of n-myc gene amplification in neuroblastoma using polymerase chain reaction based methods].

We have used semiquantitative and real-time quantitative PCRs to detect n-myc gene-amplification in 21 frozen neuroblastoma biopsies and IMR 32 cell line in order to predict biological behaviour of the tumors. Two primer pairs were used in the semiquantitative method to co-amplify a 520-bp fragment of the beta -globin gene -used as a single copy reference standard -and a 258-bp fragment of the n-myc gene. After 30 cycles the PCR products were electrophoresed through an agarose gel and were compared to each other with use of a gel-densitometer.

[Causal association between human papilloma virus infection and head and neck and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma].

HPVs commonly cause proliferative lesions of squamous epithelium, and infection with certain HPV types carries a high risk of malignant transformation. We used molecular techniques to detect and type HPV in papillomas and carcinomas in the oral cavity and esophagus. DNA was extracted from 150 fresh or paraffin embedded biopsy specimens, and analyzed for HPV by PCR with 15 sets of consensus primers directed to conserved regions of L1 gene, three sets of HPV16E6 primers (specific for the HPV 16 prototype and L83V variant), and sets of primers specific for the E6 gene of other mucosa type HPVs including HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 52, 58, 66 and 73.