Search

Background/aim Genetic variations of the CDKN2A and CDK4 gene have been associated to melanoma development. In the present study we investigated the potential associations of CDKN2A and CDK4 gene variants in a colombian population diagnosed with melanoma. Materials and methods DNA was extracted from whole blood samples from 85 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma and 166 healthy controls. CDKN2A and CDK4 genes were genotyped using a high-resolution melting assay. Results A similar distribution of CDKN2A variants 500C>G and 540C>T was found among cases (12% and 31% respectively) and controls (15% and 31% respectively). The CDKN2A variants were present in 36% of acral lentiginous melanoma and 39.47% of lentigo maligna. The haplotype analysis showed an association with susceptibility in the development of melanoma. Conclusion The presence of haplotype 500G/540C in males is associated with an increased risk of melanoma in a colombian population, especially in subjects with a family history of cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer‐related deaths. It causes approximately 125,000 deaths per year worldwide; its diagnosis is made in advanced stages resulting in a high mortality rate. The objective of the study was optimizing the isolation of cells obtained from the solid tumor and ascitic fluid of patients with ovarian cancer and the phenotype with markers related to the epithelial–mesenchymal transition. For this, the solid tumor tissue was disaggregated and cultivated with different methodologies. As a result, cell growth was obtained and epi‐immunofluorescence was performed using antibodies against E‐cadherin, EpCAM, N‐cadherin, vimentin, CD133, and CD44. The primary culture from the solid tumor was obtained using Dispase II and DMEM/F12. Finally, heterogeneity was detected in terms of the expression of mesenchymal and epithelial type markers in the two types of isolated cells. Additionally, CD133 and CD44 expression was detected, proteins associated with the tumor stem cells phenotype., The ovarian cancer cells isolated were heterogeneous. This was detected in terms of expression of mesenchymal and epithelial type markers. Additionally, CD133 and CD44 expression was detected, proteins associated with the tumor stem cells phenotype.