Glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: report of two cases with genetic analysis

Abstract

Glassy cell carcinoma, a rare cervical malignancy, is a specific type of poorly differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma. Because of the rarity of such tumors, the genetic alterations associated with their development remain unclear. In this study we investigated the possible integration of human papillomavirus and genetic alterations in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene and in ras oncogenes in two patients with this tumor. The genomic DNA of human papillomavirus type 18 was detected by polymerase chain reaction in both tumors. One of the tumors was also positive for the genomic DNA of human papillomavirus type 16. In addition, a mutation in exon 5 of the p53 gene was identified in both tumors, while no mutations were found in the various ras genes examined. Mutation of the p53 gene together with infection by human papillomavirus appears to participate in the tumorigenesis of glassy cell carcinoma.