Analysis of p53 and K-ras genes and their proteins in a sarcoma botryoides of the uterine cervix.

Several data indicate that the activation of oncogenes and growth factors as well as inactivation of the tumor suppressor genes are implicated in the development of human neoplasms, including sarcomas. In the present study we described a case of the extremely rare, but highly malignant neoplasm of the female genital tract known as sarcoma botryoides of the uterine cervix and assessed, using molecular and an immunohistochemical analysis, p53 and K-ras alterations in the tumor. A point mutation in exon 6 of the p53 tumor suppressor gene was found but no K-ras gene point mutations at codons 12, 13 and 61 were detected using molecular analysis. p53 protein was overexpressed in more than half of the neoplastic cells, however, ras p21 protein expression was not immunohistochemically detected. Our data indicate that p53, but not K-ras gene alterations may play a role in the development and progression of sarcoma botryoides of the uterine cervix.