Cancer Letters
Volume 243, Issue 2 , Pages 193-201, 18 November 2006

mtDNA mutations in invasive cervix tumors: A retrospective analysis

  • Joan Allalunis-Turner

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
    • Experimental Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Cross Cancer Institute, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton AB, Canada T6G 1Z2. Tel.: +1 780 432 8436; fax: +1 780 432 8892.
    • ,
  • Ivy Ma

      Affiliations

    • Experimental Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada
    • ,
  • John Hanson

      Affiliations

    • Population Health and Information, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada
    • ,
  • Robert G. Pearcey

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
    • Radiation Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Received 30 August 2005; received in revised form 24 November 2005; accepted 27 November 2005.

Abstract 

We tested whether mtDNA mutations are associated with poor outcome in patients with invasive cervix cancer. Tumor samples were banked more than 10 years ago from women with diagnoses of invasive cervix cancer. Automated techniques were used to determine the sequence of the mtDNA-encoded Complex I subunits. Approximately one-third of all tumors had multiple mtDNA sequence alterations. Both univariate and multivariate analysis of the 10 years survival probability showed that the 10 years survival of patients whose tumors had eight or more nucleotide substitutions was significantly worse (P<0.0063 and P<0.012, respectively). The log-rank test also found a significant difference in overall survival (P<0.003). These results suggest that multiple mtDNA mutations are an independent marker of poor prognosis, and that prospective clinical trials that incorporate analysis of mitochondrial genetic alterations in cervix cancer are warranted.

Keywords: Mitochondrial genome, mtDNA mutations, Cervix cancer, Predictive markers

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PII: S0304-3835(05)01044-X

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.11.035

Cancer Letters
Volume 243, Issue 2 , Pages 193-201, 18 November 2006

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