| We report here the discovery of a new cancer gene. PTEN, P&barbelow;hosphatase and Tensin homolog deleted on chromosome Ten, was found through mapping of homozygous deletions on human chromosome 10q23 in a number of human cancers. We also evaluated PTEN's possible role in two inherited hamartomatous disorders, Cowden Disease and Bannayan-Zonana Syndrome, and found positive evidence of germline mutations or deletions of PTEN in both. We next examined PTEN's role in normal biology by re-introducing PTEN into a PTEN-null cell line and evaluating for effects on cell cycle and programmed cell death. Lastly, we attempted the technique of Serial Analysis of Gene Expression as part of a global search for new PTEN-modulated pathways. |
