Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: correlations between DNA adducts and ras oncogene mutations

This review describes a series of studies on the tumorigenic activities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in various experimental animal model systems, their abilities to form PAH-DNA adducts in target tissues, and their abilities to mutate ras oncogenes in PAH-induced tumors. The review is limited to those PAHs that do not contain nitrogen, for which ras mutations have been detected in induced tumors, and for which some information is available about the structures of the DNA adducts induced in the target tissue. In general, PAHs that form DNA adducts at deoxyadenosine induce mutations at codon 61, whereas those PAHs that form DNA adducts at deoxyguanosine primarily induce mutations at codons 12 or 13. Those PAHs that induce adducts at both bases induce both types of mutations. These correlations provide evidence for the involvement of adduct-directed mutations in ras in the etiology of these tumors. The induced mutation spectra in ras may in fact point back to the identity of the type of adduct formed.     

Photocarcinogenesis--molecular mechanisms

The carcinogenicity (photocarcinogenicity) of sunlight to human skin has been recognized more than a century ago. Last decades numerous experimental studies show that UV rays damage DNA, cause gene mutations leading to the development of malignant tumors such basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas. The tumors occur most frequently in fair skinned people, and the mutations typically are found at dipyrimidine sites with C-T or / and CC-TT tandem double mutations. The authors briefly summarize their investigation of the p53 suppressor gene, and expose their hypothesis of hTERT involvement in cancerogenesis. Also their underline the importance of UV induced immunosuppression in photocarcinogenesis. Psoriatic patients are exposed to numerous cancerogens in their treatment. A better understanding of the mechanisms of photocarcinogenesis could provide new ways in the treatment of skin tumors.     

The role of UV induced lesions in skin carcinogenesis: an overview of oncogene and tumor suppressor gene modifications in xeroderma pigmentosum skin tumors

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a rare hereditary syndrome, is characterized by a hypersensitivity to solar irradiation due to a defect in nucleotide excision repair resulting in a predisposition to squamous and basal cell carcinomas as well as malignant melanomas appearing at a very early age. The mutator phenotype of XP cells is evident by the higher levels of UV specific modifications found in key regulatory genes in XP skin tumors compared to those in the same tumor types from the normal population. Thus, XP provides a unique model for the study of unrepaired DNA lesions, mutations and skin carcinogenesis. The high level of ras oncogene activation, Ink4a-Arf and p53 tumor suppressor gene modifications as well as alterations of the different partners of the mitogenic sonic hedgehog signaling pathway (patched, smoothened and sonic hedgehog), characterized in XP skin tumors have clearly demonstrated the major role of the UV component of sunlight in the development of skin tumors. The majority of the mutations are C to T or tandem CC to TT UV signature transitions, occurring at bipyrimidine sequences, the specific targets of UV induced lesions. These characteristics are also found in the same genes modified in sporadic skin cancers but with lower frequencies confirming the validity of studying the XP model. The knowledge gained by studying XP tumors has given us a greater perception of the contribution of genetic predisposition to cancer as well as the consequences of the many alterations which modulate the activities of different genes affecting crucial pathways vital for maintaining cell homeostasis.     

Inhibition ofras oncogene: A novel approach to antineoplastic therapy

The most frequently detected oncogene alterations, both in animal and human cancers, are the mutations in the ras oncogene family. These oncogenes are mutated or overexpressed in many human tumors, with a high incidence in tumors of the pancreas, thyroid, colon, lung and certain types of leukemia. Ras is a small guanine nucleotide binding protein that transduces biological information from the cell surface to cytoplasmic components within cells. The signal is transduced to the cell nucleus through second messengers, and it ultimately induces cell division. Oncogenic forms of p21(ras) lead to unregulated, sustained signaling through downstream effectors. The ras family of oncogenes is involved in the development of both primary tumors and metastases making it a good therapeutic target. Several therapeutic approaches to cancer have been developed pointing to reducing the altered gene product or to eliminating its biological function: (1) gene therapy with ribozymes, which are able to break down specific RNA sequences, or with antisense oligonucleotides, (2) immunotherapy through passive or active immunization protocols, and (3) inhibition of p21(ras) farnesylation either by inhibition of farnesyl transferase or synthesis inhibition of farnesyl moieties.     

Isoform-specific ras activation and oncogene dependence during MYC- and Wnt-induced mammary tumorigenesis

We have previously shown that c-MYC-induced mammary tumorigenesis in mice proceeds via a preferred secondary pathway involving spontaneous activating mutations in Kras2 (C. M. D'Cruz, E. J. Gunther, R. B. Boxer, J. L. Hartman, L. Sintasath, S. E. Moody, J. D. Cox, S. I. Ha, G. K. Belka, A. Golant, R. D. Cardiff, and L. A. Chodosh, Nat. Med. 7:235-239, 2001). In contrast, we now demonstrate that Wnt1-induced mammary tumorigenesis proceeds via a pathway that preferentially activates Hras1. In addition, we find that expression of oncogenic forms of Kras2 and Hras1 from their endogenous promoters has markedly different consequences for the progression of tumors to oncogene independence. Spontaneous activating Kras2 mutations occurring in either MYC- or Wnt1-induced tumors were strongly associated with oncogene-independent tumor growth following MYC or Wnt1 downregulation. In contrast, Hras1-mutant Wnt1-induced tumors consistently remained oncogene dependent. Additionally, Kras2-mutant tumors exhibited substantially higher levels of ras-GTP, phospho-Erk1/2, and phospho-Mek1/2 compared to Hras1-mutant tumors, suggesting the involvement of the ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in the acquisition of oncogene independence. Consistent with this, by use of carcinogen-induced ras mutations as well as knock-in mice harboring a latent activated Kras2 allele, we demonstrate that Kras2 activation strongly synergizes with both c-MYC and Wnt1 in mammary tumorigenesis and promotes the progression of tumors to oncogene independence. Together, our findings support a model for tumorigenesis in which c-MYC and Wnt1 select for the outgrowth of cells harboring mutations in specific ras isoforms and that these secondary mutations, in turn, determine the extent of ras/MAPK pathway activation and the potential for oncogene-independent growth.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of normal and mutated ras oncogene p21 expression in human pulmonary and pleural neoplasms

In this study we examined 214 cases of primary human pulmonary neoplasms for the expression of a mutated form of the ras oncogene p21 product, recognized by the monoclonal antibody (MCA) DWP. Adjacent serial sections from these same cases had previously been used to demonstrate the frequency of ras p21 expression using the broadly reactive anti-ras p21 MCA RAP-5. Confirmation of the increased expression of p21 was accomplished using MCA Y13-259. The use of adjacent tissue sections from these cases allows the direct comparison of the expression of the mutated and non-mutated forms of ras p21. If reactivity with DWP would prove to be significantly more restrictive than that of the "pan" ras MCAs, RAP-5 and Y13-259, it would lend support to the possibility that DWP (and similar MCAs which detect other specific mutations) could be used to define subsets of these neoplasms based on their specific ras p21 phenotype. Since one would anticipate that the valine/cysteine substitution at position 12 of the ras p21 would occur at only low frequencies in human tumors, our results with DWP are consistent with this hypothesis. As previously reported, RAP-5 reacted with a high proportion of lung tumors (100/214 or 47%). In this report, we demonstrate the selective expression of the mutation recognized by the MCA DWP in only 5% of these same tumors (13/214), and that the expression of this mutated form is not restricted to any of the conventional histological subclasses of pulmonary neoplasms.     

The ras gene family and human carcinogenesis

It has been well established that specific alterations in members of the ras gene family, H-ras, K-ras and N-ras, can convert them into active oncogenes. These alterations are either point mutations occurring in either codon 12, 13 or 61 or, alternatively, a 5- to 50-fold amplification of the wild-type gene. Activated ras oncogenes have been found in a significant proportion of all tumors but the incidence varies considerably with the tumor type: it is relatively frequent (20-40%) in colorectal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia, but absent or present only rarely in, for example, breast tumors and stomach cancer. No correlation has been found, yet, between the presence of absence of an activated ras gene and the clinical or biological features of the malignancy. The activation of ras oncogenes is only one step in the multistep process of tumor formation. The presence of mutated ras genes in benign polyps of the colon indicates that activation can be an early event, possibly even the initiating event. However, it can also occur later in the course of carcinogenesis to initiate for instance the transition of a benign polyp of the colon into a malignant carcinoma or to convert a primary melanoma into a metastatic tumor. Apparently, the activation of ras genes is not an obligatory event but when it occurs it can contribute to both early and advanced stages of human carcinogenesis.     

Neutron radiation can activate K-ras via a point mutation in codon 146 and induces a different spectrum of ras mutations than does gamma radiation.

Neutron radiation is known to produce tumors in animals and cause cell transformation. We have developed a protocol to efficiently induce thymic lymphomas in RF/J mice by a single acute dose of neutron irradiation. Activated ras genes were detected in 17% (4 of 24) of the tumors analyzed. One of the tumors contained a K-ras gene activated by a point mutation in codon 146. Activating ras mutations at position 146 have not been previously detected in any known human or animal tumors. The spectrum of ras mutations detected in neutron radiation-induced thymic lymphomas was different from that seen in thymic lymphomas induced by gamma radiation in the same strain of mice. These results may have important implications for the mechanisms by which different types of radiation damage DNA.     

Genetic analysis of Raf1, Mdm2, c-Myc, Cdc25a and Cdc25b proto-oncogenes in 2',3'-dideoxycytidine- and 1,3-butadiene-induced lymphomas in B6C3F1 mice

We have previously identified activation of ras proto-oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes including p53, p16(INK4a) and p15(INK4b) in 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC)- and/or 1,3-butadiene (BD)-induced lymphomas derived from B6C3F1 (C57BL/6xC3H/He) mice, indicating that alterations of ras signaling pathway, p53 and pRb growth control pathways are important in the development of these chemically induced lymphomas. However, there is still a subset of tumors that displayed no changes in these genes. Thus, we investigated whether the Raf1, Mdm2, c-Myc, Cdc25a and Cdc25b proto-oncogenes, which are implicated in the ras or p53 or pRb pathways, are alternative oncogenic target genes. Analyses of gross genomic alterations by Southern blots failed to reveal rearrangement or amplification in any of the tumors examined. Frequent point mutations on the substrate binding domain of the Raf1 gene has been reported in 1-ethyl-1-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced murine lymphomas and lung tumors, along with a conspicuous lack of ras mutations [U. Naumann, I. Eisenmann-Tappe, U.R. Rapp, The role of raf kinases in development and growth of tumors, Recent Results Cancer Res., 143 (1997) 237-244]. To investigate whether Raf1 mutation is involved in our set of tumor especially those without ras mutations, the PCR-based single-strand conformation analyses (SSCA) and direct DNA sequencing were employed. No mutations but four genetic polymorphisms between C57BL/6 and C3H/He were found, with two of them reported as point mutations previously (op. cit.). The polymorphisms were utilized for allelic loss study of Raf1 locus. Losses of heterozygosity were found in six of 31 BD-induced lymphomas. These results indicate that genetic alterations of c-Myc, Cdc25, Raf1 and Mdm2 proto-oncogenes may not be involved in the development of ddC- and BD-induced lymphomas and the inactivation of tumor suppressor gene(s) located close to Raf1 gene might be important in the development of a subset of BD-induced lymphomas.     

Point mutations of ras oncogenes are an early event in thyroid tumorigenesis

Identifying the nature of the genetic mutations in thyroid neoplasms and their prevalence in the various tumor phenotypes is critical to understanding their pathogenesis. Mutational activation of ras oncogenes in human tumors occurs predominantly through point mutations in two functional regions of the molecules, codons 12, 13 (GTP-binding domain) or codon 61 (GTPase domain). We examined the prevalence of point mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 of the oncogenes K-ras, N-ras, and H-ras in benign and malignant human thyroid tumors by hybridization of PCR-amplified tumor DNA with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide probes. None of the eight normal thyroid tissues harbored point mutations. Four of nineteen nodules from multinodular goiters (21%), 6/24 microfollicular adenomas (25%), 3/14 papillary carcinomas (21%), and 0/3 follicular carcinomas contained ras point mutations. The predominant mutation was a valine for glycine substitution in codon 12 of H-ras. None of the multinodular goiter tumors known to be polyclonal (and thus due to hyperplasia) had point mutations, whereas one of the two monoclonal adenomas arising in nodular glands contained in H-ras codon 12 valine substitution, which was confirmed by sequencing the tumor DNA. These data show that ras activation is about equally prevalent in benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms, and thus may be an early event in the tumorigenic process.     

Malignant transformation of murine fibroblasts by a human c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene does not require a functional epidermal growth factor receptor.

Although mutations in ras genes are thought to be important for the development of about 20% of human tumors, almost nothing is known about the way in which these mutations lead to cellular transformation. The known biochemical properties of the 21-kilodalton ras proteins suggest that they may behave as G proteins, regulating the proliferation of cells in response to growth factor stimulation of a receptor. Although the putative receptor(s) has not been identified, several lines of evidence, in particular the fact that rodent cell lines containing ras oncogenes produce transforming growth factor alpha, have suggested that the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor is involved in ras transformation. Here we show that murine fibroblasts with no EGF receptors can be transformed to a completely malignant phenotype with a mutated ras gene. It appears, therefore, that the EGF receptor is not required for ras-mediated transformation of these cells.     

Somatic mutations in the neurofibromatosis 1 gene in human tumors.

The neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) gene product, neurofibromin, contains a GTPase-activating protein (GAP)-related domain, or NF1 GRD, that is able to down-regulate p21ras by stimulating its intrinsic GTPase. Since p21ras.GTP is a major regulator of growth and differentiation, mutant neurofibromins resulting from somatic mutations in the NF1 gene might interfere with ras signaling pathways and contribute to the development of tumors. We describe an amino acid substitution in the NF1 GRD, altering Lys-1423, that has occurred in three tumor types: colon adenocarcinoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and anaplastic astrocytoma, and in one family with neurofibromatosis 1. The GAP activity of the mutant NF1 GRD is 200- to 400-fold lower than that of wild type, whereas binding affinity is unaffected. Thus, germline mutations in NF1 that cause neurofibromatosis 1 can also occur in somatic cells and contribute to the development of sporadic tumors, including tumors not associated with neurofibromatosis 1.     

Tumor heterogeneity: morphological, molecular and clinical implications

Malignant tumors are characterized by their great heterogeneity and variability. There are hundreds of different types of malignant tumors that harbour many oncogenic alterations. The tumor heterogeneity has important morphological, molecular and clinical implications. Except for some hematopoietic and lymphoproliferative processes and small cell infant tumors, there are not specific molecular alterations for most human tumors. In this review we summarize the most important aspects of carcinogenesis and chemoradiosensitivity of malignant cells. In this regard, some oncogenes such as neu, ras and bcl-2 have been associated with cellular resistance to treatment with anticancer agents. The knowledge of oncogenic alterations involved in each tumor can be important to correlate the morphological features, the genetic background, the prognosis and the clinical response to treatment with anticancer agents. Based on the molecular background of the tumor there are new cancer gene therapy protocols. For example using adenovirus Ela in tumors with overexpression of neu oncogene, inhibitors of tyrosine kinase specific for the PDGF receptor in glioma, inhibitors of farnesil transferase to prevent ras activity in tumors with mutations in the ras gene.     

Mutations in the 61st codon of the c-Ki-ras oncogene during transplacental lung tumor induction in mice and their difference in spontaneous and induced tumors]

DNA isolated from lung and liver tumor which were induced in CD-1 mice by transplacental treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) or developed spontaneously was analyzed for the presence of Ha- and Ki-ras oncogene codon 61 mutations. The A to T transversions at the second position of Ha-ras codon 61 were revealed only in liver tumors of DMBA-exposed animals, whereas only Ki-ras mutations occurred in both spontaneous and induced tumors of the lung. A to T mutations at the second position of Ki-ras codon 61 or non-identified yet mutations at the third position of the same codon were shown to be related to DMBA treatment. Thus both tissue and carcinogen specificity of ras oncogene activation was clearly demonstrated.     

Genetic definition of ras effector elements.

The products of ras genes may function as GTP-binding signal transducers, but the nature of their targets is largely unknown. To define genetically the cellular effector(s) of ras in rat fibroblast transformation, somatic variants that suppress the nontransforming phenotype of v-H-ras effector domain mutations were sought. Variant cell lines perturbed in the ras effector pathway were recovered, and the properties of one suggest that the primary target of ras action may be altered. In this cell variant, no single residue in the ras protein effector domain must be wild type to bring about transformation. In parental rat cells, conservative substitutions are tolerated in six of nine residues. Functional interaction with the target may not require a high degree of structural specificity in the ras protein effector domain.     

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing of homologous sequences: point mutation analysis of the ras genes.

ras proto-oncogenes are activated by point mutation in a wide variety of human and animal tumors, making ras gene analysis a major area of clinical and basic cancer research. Activating point mutations, in each of the three ras genes (Ha-, Ki-, or N-ras), usually occur in one of three specific codons (12, 13, or 61). Thus, an adequate assessment of activating ras gene mutations should include the analysis of at least nine codons. We have developed a rapid method for point mutation analysis of the ras genes, which involves simultaneous (multiplex) PCR amplification of all three homologous ras genes (in the regions surrounding codons 12-13 and codon 61) in a single reaction starting with only 1 microgram of genomic DNA. Although multiplex PCR has been previously used for unrelated sequences, we demonstrate here that multiplex PCR can also be used for highly homologous sequences. Importantly, after coamplification, each of the homologous ras genes can be individually and specifically sequenced even though the other two closely related genes are present in the same template mixture, by using high-stringency conditions permitted by Taq DNA polymerase. An automated multicycle DNA sequencing procedure is used to allow the double-stranded PCR products to be sequenced directly without the need to generate single-stranded templates, further simplifying the protocol. Our multiplex PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing procedures should greatly facilitate more complete analyses of activating ras gene point mutations, particularly in studies involving many tumor samples.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Involvement of 5-methylcytosine in sunlight-induced mutagenesis.

In human skin cancers, more than 30 % of all mutations in the p53 gene are transitions at dipyrimidines within the sequence context CpG, i.e. 5'-TCG and 5'-CCG, found at several mutational hotspots. Since CpGs are methylated along the p53 gene, these mutations may be derived from solar UV-induced pyrimidine dimers forming at sequences that contain 5-methylcytosine. In Xorder to define the contribution of 5-methylcytosine to sunlight-induced mutations, we have used mouse fibroblasts containing the CpG-methylated lacI transgene as a mutational target. We sequenced 182 UVC (254 nm UV)-induced mutations and 170 mutations induced by a solar UV simulator, along with 75 mutations in untreated cells. Only a few of the mutations in untreated cells were transitions at dipyrimidines, but more than 95% of the UVC and solar irradiation-induced mutations were targeted to dipyrimidine sites, the majority being transitions. After UVC irradiation, 6% of the base substitutions were at dipyrimidines containing 5-methylcytosine and only 2.2% of all mutations were transitions within this sequence context. However, 24% of the solar light-induced mutations were at dipyrimidines that contain 5-methylcytosine and most of them were transitions. Two sunlight-induced mutational hotspots at methylated CpGs correlated with sequences that form the highest levels of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers after irradiation with sunlight but not with UVC. The data indicate that dipyrimidines that contain 5-methylcytosine are preferential targets for sunlight-induced mutagenesis in cultured mammalian cells, thus explaining the large proportion of p53 mutations at such sites in skin tumors in vivo.     

Ineffectiveness of the presence of H-ras/p53 combination of mutations in squamous cell carcinoma cells to induce a conversion of a nontumorigenic to a tumorigenic phenotype

Human tumor cells have properties in vitro or in surrogate hosts that are distinct from those of normal cells, such as immortality, anchorage independence, and tumor formation in nude mice. However, different cells from individual tumors may exhibit some, but not all of these features. In previous years, human tumor cell lines derived from different tumor and tissue types have been studied to determine those molecular changes that are associated with the in vitro properties listed above and with tumorigenicity in nude mice. In the present study, seven cell lines derived from human tumors were characterized for p53 and ras mutations that may occur in SCC tumor phenotypes and for tumor formation in nude mice. This investigation was designed to examine whether co-occurrence of mutated ras and p53 lead to a malignant stage in the progression process. None of the seven cell lines contained mutations in the recognized "hot spots" of the p53 tumor suppressor gene, but four had a nonsense/splice mutation in codon 126 and a mutation in codon 12 of the H-ras gene. The remaining three cell lines had p53 mutations in intron 5, in codon 193, and a missense mutation in codon 126, respectively. Four of seven cell lines were nontumorigenic; two of these cell lines contained a nonsense p53-126 mutation and mutated ras; one had a missense mutation at codon 126 but no mutated ras; the the fourth had only a p53 mutation at codon 193. Two of the nontumorigenic cell lines were converted to tumorigenicity after treatment with methyl methanesulfonate or N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine with no apparent additional mutations in either gene. Our analysis revealed that there was a high frequency of genetic diversity and mutations in both p53 and H-ras. There was also a lack of a causal relationship in the presence of mutations in p53 and the cells ability to exhibit a malignant potential in nude mice.