Ras Oncogene Mutations in Renal Cell Cancer

Members of the ras gene family are activated as oncogenes in many different human cancers. To determine the frequency at which such genes might be involved in the development of renal cell carcinoma, we analyzed tumor DNA derived from 55 patients. The polymerase chain reaction technique was used to amplify DNA fragments containing Kirsten(Ki-), Harvey (Ha-), and N-ras codons 12, 13, and 61. The amplified fragments were then probed on slot-blots with labeled mutation-specific oligomers. A single Ki-ras mutation (codon 12, gly-val) was detected in a patient with a pT2N2M0 tumor. We conclude that ras oncogene mutations do not play an important role in the initiation of renal cell carcinoma.