J Korean Med Sci.  1997 Aug;12(4):322-326. 10.3346/jkms.1997.12.4.322.

Analysis of clonality by X chromosome inactivation in uterine cervix cancer

• Ko HM
• Choi C
• Park CS
• Juhng SW

• KMID: 1081054
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.1997.12.4.322

Abstract

The determination of a unicellular or a multicellular origin of a tumor is an important due for understanding its etiology. To investigate this issue, we performed clonality assay of cervix cancer using polymerase chain reaction based on highly polymorphic locus of the androgen receptor gene, in which methylation of DNA correlates with inactivation of X chromosome. DNA samples were obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of 20 invasive epidermoid carcinomas and 10 carcinoma in situ. Seven of ten carcinoma in situ, heterozygous for the androgen receptor locus, were monoclonal pattern. Among twenty invasive epidermoid carcinomas, eighteen of which showed heterozygous, twelve were monoclonal pattern and six were polyclonal pattern. We conclude that carcinoma in situ arises from a single cell. In invasive epidermoid carcinoma, most cases were monoclonal, although some cases were polyclonal. These suggest that invasive carcinoma of the cervix does not always arise from a single cell, but may arise from several cells with different mechanisms.

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma in Situ/pathology
Carcinoma in Situ/genetics*
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/pathology
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics*
Cervix Neoplasms/pathology
Cervix Neoplasms/genetics*
Disease Progression
Dosage Compensation (Genetics)*
Female
Human
Neoplasm Invasiveness
Paraffin Embedding
Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods*
Receptors, Androgen/genetics*