Malignant fibrous histiocytomas and H-ras-1 oncogene point mutations

Aims-To investigate the types and the frequencies of H-ras-1 gene mutations in malignant fibrous histiocytomas. Methods-Thirty five samples of malignant fibrous histiocytoma tissue were s earched for point mutations within "hot spot" codons 12 and 13 of the H-ras -1 oncogene by the specific "nested" polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (FCR-RFLP) and a direct cycle sequ encing procedure. Results-In contrast to previous reports, none of the tumours contained a po int mutation or any other changes within or around the hot spot gene sequen ces. Conclusions These data indicate that H-ras-1 oncogenic activation is not re quired in the molecular pathway of malignant fibrous histiocytoma formation and cannot be used as a discriminating factor for diagnostic sarcoma typin g.