Virchows Arch  2001 Dec;439(6):798-802 

Genetic profile of 22 pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. Analysis of K-ras, p53,
p16 and DPC4/Smad4.

Moore PS, Sipos B, Orlandini S, Sorio C, Real FX, Lemoine NR, Gress T, Bassi C,
Kloppel G, Kalthoff H, Ungefroren H, Lohr M, Scarpa A.

Department of Pathology, University of Verona, Italy.

The K-ras, p53, p16 and DPC4 genes are among those most frequently altered in
pancreatic ductal carcinoma. We analyzed 22 cell lines for alterations in these
genes by direct sequence analysis and methylation-specific polymerase chain
reaction. These cell lines showed mutations in K-ras and p53 at frequencies of
91% and 95%, respectively. Alterations in p16INK4a were found in all cases and
included nine homozygous deletions, seven mutations and promoter methylation in
six cases. Eight cell lines (36%) had an alteration of DPC4, including one
mutation and seven homozygous deletions. The most typical mutational profile
involved K-ras, p53, and p16INK4a, concurrently aberrated in 20 cases (91%).
Eight cell lines had alterations in all four genes. Inactivation of DPC4 was
always accompanied by alteration of all of the other three genes. This
comprehensive data regarding the cumulative genetic alterations in pancreatic
carcinoma cell lines will be of great value for studies involving drug
sensitivity or resistance that may be associated with inactivation of a
particular gene or molecular pathway.

PMID: 11787853 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]