CHFR gene is neither mutated nor hypermethylated in ovarian cancer

Background: CHFR is a mitotic checkpoint protein that under mitotic stress (caused also by taxanes) delays progression into mitosis. Methods: We looked for CHFR gene (605209) alterations and its promoter hypermethylation in 48 ovarian carcinomas either sensitive or resistant to taxane treatment. We used single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, sequencing and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Results: Neither mutations in the CHFR gene nor hypermethylation of its promoter region were found. A novel single nucleotide polymorphism (Val154Val) was identified in exon 5 of alternatively spliced transcript. Conclusions: Our results indicate that CHFR gene status cannot serve as a molecular predictor of ovarian cancer sensitivity to taxanes.