An efficient and reliable multiplex PCR-SSCP mutation analysis test applied to the human E-cadherin gene

The invasion suppressor gene E-CADHERIN (CDH1) is downregulated in a large variety of human carcinomas. Up to now, mutational analysis of the CDH1 gene has been described for 325 tumors derived from only four different tissue types. A simple but sensitive mutation detection assay is needed to screen many more tumor types, possibly bearing E-cadherin inactivating mutations. For that purpose, we developed a multiplex PCR-SSCP analysis for all 16 CDH1 exons. Ease of experimentation was combined with reliable sensitivity. Indeed, the present multiplex analysis reduces the number of manipulations to 50%, while the mutation detection turned out to be highly efficient and sensitive.