Alteration of cyclin D1 and CDK4 gene in carcinoma of uterine cervix

Amplification and overexpression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 genes in cervical carcinoma were studied by semi-quantitative differential polymerase chain reaction assay and an immunostaining technique, respectively. Amplifications of cyclin D1 and CDK4 genes were found in 24% (27/113) and 26% (29/112) of tumors, respectively. Overexpression of cyclin D1 and CDK4 was demonstrated in 32% (21/66) and 73% (45/62) of tumors, respectively. No tumor showed CDK4 gene mutation on single strand conformational polymorphism. Sixteen percent (8/49) of the tumor specimens showed neither amplification nor over expression. Disease stage, tumor grade and overexpression of cyclin D1 were found to be independent poor prognostic factors in cervical carcinoma. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.