H-RAS GENE-MUTATIONS IN SALIVARY-GLAND PLEOMORPHIC ADENOMAS

The DNA from 17 specimens of pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland s was screened for the presence of ras gene mutations, which are known to be involved in the pathogenesis of various human neoplasias. By a sensitive method of hybridization with synthetic oligonucleotide probe s on in vitro amplified tumor DNA, point mutations, mainly in codon 12 of the H-ras gene, were detected in six tumor specimens (35%). This h igh incidence of mutated ras genes suggests that their alteration may play a role in the pathogenesis of pleomorphic adenomas.