Absence of p15INK4B and p16INK4A gene alterations in primary cervical carcinoma tissues and cell lines with human papillomavirus infection.

OBJECTIVE: Alterations of the p15INK4B and p16INK4A gene which are separated by 25 kb on chromosome 9p21 have been reported in various tumor-derived cell lines and primary tumors, but the role of these genes in cervical cancer is unknown. To determine the frequency of deletions and point mutations of these genes in human cervical cancer, we examined for alterations of the p15INK4B and p16INK4A genes in cervical carcinomas.
METHODS: We examined 57 primary tumors and matched normal tissues and 3 cervical cancer-derived cell lines. All the tumor tissues and cell lines were human papillomavirus (HPV) positive. Deletions or point mutations of exon 2 of the pINK4B gene and exons 1, 2, and 3 of the p16INK3A gene were examined by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing, respectively.
RESULTS: Our data indicate no evidence for intragenic homozygous deletion or point mutation in the primary cervical cancer tissues or cancer-derived cell lines.
CONCLUSION: Deletions or point mutations in the p15INK4B or p16INK4A gene may not be required for the development of HPV-positive cervical cancer or for establishment of cervical cancer cell lines.