SOMATIC MUTATIONS OF VON HIPPEL-LINDAU (VHL) TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE INEUROPEAN KIDNEY CANCERS

Somatic mutations of von Hippel Lindou (VHL) tumor-suppressor gene hav e been identified in kidney cancers from North America and Japan. We s tudied VHL gene mutation in 31 kidney tumors from France. Of these tum ors, 45% (14/31) displayed mutations, 60% of which occurred at A:T bas e pairs. The frequency and the spectrum of mutations identified in kid ney tumors from Europe were similar to those reported for tumors from other geographical locations. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.