Mutational analysis of Chk1, Chk2, Apaf1 and Rb1 in human malignant melanoma cell lines.

Four tumour suppressor genes (Chk1, Chk2, Apaf1 and Rb1) in nine human malignant melanoma cell lines were screened for a loss of gene expression, point mutations and small deletions/insertions by cDNA-based DGGE/SCCP analysis. In two cell lines alterations of the investigated genes could be demonstrated. This result confirms our assumption of the participation of dysfunctional p53 inducer/effector genes in human melanoma aetiology. Furthermore, it points towards the probable principal role of diverse alternative p53-pathway disruption mechanisms in this highly therapy-resistant malignancy without affecting p53 itself. To our knowledge, this is the first CHK1/CHK2 mutation screening in human melanoma.