Increased proliferative potential of final passage STS cells was not associated with significant differences in methylation (LINE-1, PTEN) and mutation status (KRAS, BRAF), but it was dependent on the amount of chromosomal aberrations.
In contrast, caffeine treatment specifically increased IR-induced chromosome aberrations and mitotic index only in cells with PTEN, and not in cells deficient for PTEN, suggesting that their checkpoints were defective.
Although cytogenetic aberrations at 10q have been reported in up to 27% of uveal melanomas, the role of PTEN in the pathogenesis of uveal melanoma is largely unknown.