This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Raybaud, F. Articles by Birnbaum, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Raybaud, F. Articles by Birnbaum, D.

Detection of a Low Frequency of Activated ras Genes in Human Melanomas Using a Tumorigenicity Assay¹

Unitè 119 de l'INSERM, 27, Bd Lei Roure, 13009 Marseille, France

We have used an assay combining DNA-mediated gene transfer and tumorigenicity in Swiss athymic mice to look for activated ras genes in solid human sporadic melanomas. This assay can detect ras oncogenes mutated at codons 12, 13, or 61. We examined a panel of 13 independent surgical specimens of primary tumors and metastases. No H- or K-ras oncogenes were detected; an N-ras oncogene, mutated at codon 61, was identified in one of the 13 samples. No N-ras genes mutated at codon 13 were detected. Thus, the tumorigenicity assay detects a low frequency of ras gene activation in melanomas.

¹ This research was supported by INSERM and by grants from the Fédération Nationale les Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer, Association pour la Recherche contre le Cancer, the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, and the Comités Départementaux des Bouches du Rhône et des Hautes-Alpes de la Ligue Nationale Français Contre le Cancer.

² Recipient of a Fellowship from l'Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer.

³ Supported by a Fellowship from the Comité Départemental des Hautes-Alpes de la Ligue Nationale Français Contre le Cancer.

⁴ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 7/ 1/87. Revised 10/22/87. Accepted 11/11/87.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Omholt, S. Karsberg, A. Platz, L. Kanter, U. Ringborg, and J. Hansson Screening of N-ras Codon 61 Mutations in Paired Primary and Metastatic Cutaneous Melanomas: Mutations Occur Early and Persist throughout Tumor Progression Clin. Cancer Res., November 1, 2002; 8(11): 3468 - 3474. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]