Amplifications of DNA primase I (PRIMI) in human osteosarcoma

We studied the involvement of PRIM I in osteosarcoma by differential displa y, Northern and Southern hybridization, as well as fluorescence in situ hyb ridization (FISH) on interphase nuclei. In total, 22 pediatric oncology spe cimens were tested. PRIM I was found to be amplified in 41% of the samples. PRIM I is coamplified with the core 12q13 amplicon genes CDK4, SAS, and OS 9, and was physically mapped very close to them. PRIM I is therefore a new candidate for the role of a major target gene of 12q13 amplifications in hu man cancers. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.