Detection of genetic instability at HER-2/neu and p53 loci in breast cancer cells sing Comet-FISH

Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2005 May;91(1):89-93. doi: 10.1007/s10549-004-5780-0.

Abstract

A proportion of breast cancers acquire genetic alterations at 17q11.2-q12 (HER-2/neu), 20q13.2 (ZNF217 gene) and 17p13.1 (p53). We describe a unique technique (Comet-FISH) in which we documented relative genetic instability at p53 and HER-2/neu gene loci within a panel of malignant breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7; MDA-MB-468 and CRL-2336). Furthermore, Comet-FISH data were consistent with preferential repair of the p53 locus following gentoxic insult and suggest that this assay may be quite useful for the study of genetic instability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20*
  • Comet Assay
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA Repair
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Genes, p53*
  • Genomic Instability
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Mutagens
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Mutagens
  • Receptor, ErbB-2