Mutational and promoter hypermethylation status of FHIT gene in breast cancer patients of Kashmir.

Objective: Fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene located at chromosome 3p14.2 is a putative tumor suppressor gene involved in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Both genetic and epigenetic alterations in FHIT have been implicated in breast carcinoma.

Molecular gate keepers succumb to gene aberrations in colorectal cancer in Kashmiri population, revealing a high incidence area.

Background/aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading malignancies worldwide and has been reported to show geographical variation in its incidence, even within areas of ethnic homogeneity. The aim of this study was to identify p53 and K-ras gene mutations in CRC patients in a Kashmiri population, and to assess whether these mutations are linked with clinicopathological parameters.

Materials And Methods: Paired tumor and normal tissue samples from a consecutive series of 53 patients undergoing resective surgery for CRC were prospectively studied for p53 and K-ras gene mutations by PCR/single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP).