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Mutations of the BRAF gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

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Abstract

The RAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signal transduction cascade is an important mediator of a number of cellular fates including growth, proliferation and survival. The BRAF gene, one of the human isoforms of RAF, is activated by oncogenic RAS, leading to cooperative effects in cells responding to growth factor signals. This study was performed to elucidate a possible function of BRAF in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Mutations of BRAF and KRAS2 were evaluated in 89 HNSCC and corresponding normal mucosa by direct DNA sequencing analyses after microdissection. The results obtained were correlated with histopathological variables. Activating BRAF missense mutations were identified in 3/89 HNSCC (3%). KRAS2 mutations were found in five out of 89 (6%) HNSCC examined. There were no mutations of KRAS2 and BRAF in non-neoplastic mucosa. We failed to observe a correlation between BRAF or KRAS2 mutations and histopathological factors. Our data indicate that BRAF gene mutations are relatively rare events in HNSCC. Although uncommon, BRAF mutations may identify a subset of patients with HNSCC sensitive to targeted therapy.

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Abbreviations

HNSCC:

head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

MAP:

mitogen-activated protein

ERK:

extracellular signal-regulated kinase

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Acknowledgements

This paper was supported by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMB+F), Interdisciplinary Centre for Clinical Research (IZKF) at the University of Leipzig (01KS9504/1, Project D01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 18a, Leipzig, 04103, Germany

    Anette Weber

  2. Institute of Pathology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 26, Leipzig, 04103, Germany

    Larissa Langhanki, Florian Sommerer, Annett Markwarth, Christian Wittekind & Andrea Tannapfel

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  1. Anette Weber
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  2. Larissa Langhanki
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  3. Florian Sommerer
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  4. Annett Markwarth
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  6. Andrea Tannapfel
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Correspondence to Andrea Tannapfel.

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Weber, A., Langhanki, L., Sommerer, F. et al. Mutations of the BRAF gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Oncogene 22, 4757–4759 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1206705

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