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  • Title: Frequent mutation and nuclear localization of beta-catenin in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma.
    Author: Garcia-Rostan G, Tallini G, Herrero A, D'Aquila TG, Carcangiu ML, Rimm DL.
    Journal: Cancer Res; 1999 Apr 15; 59(8):1811-5. PubMed ID: 10213482.
    Abstract:
    Beta-catenin is an ubiquitously expressed cytoplasmic protein that has a crucial role in both E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and as a downstream signaling molecule in the wingless pathway. Stabilization of beta-catenin followed by nuclear translocation and subsequent T-cell factor/lymphoid-enhancing factor-mediated transcriptional activation has been proposed as an important step in oncogenesis. Stabilization may occur through activating mutations in exon-3 at the phosphorylation sites for ubiquitination and degradation of beta-catenin. Immunohistochemical subcellular localization of beta-catenin and mutational analysis of exon-3 of the beta-catenin gene by single-strand conformational polymorphism followed by DNA sequencing was performed on 37 samples from 31 patients with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Immunofluorescent staining showed nuclear localization in 15 (42%) of the 36 samples examined. Nucleotide sequencing of mobility shifts detected by single-strand conformational polymorphism revealed somatic alterations in 19 (61%) of the 31 patients analyzed. We conclude that mutations in beta-catenin are common in anaplastic thyroid cancer and that they may activate transcription, as illustrated by frequent nuclear localization of the protein. These findings support the idea that beta-catenin acts as an oncogene and contributes to the highly aggressive behavior of this tumor.
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