H-ras gene amplification or mutation is not common in human primary breastcancer

In a clinical study we found that patients with primary node negative breas t cancer whose tumors showed high expression of H-ras had a significantly b etter prognosis than patients whose carcinomas did not. In the present stud y, these tissue specimens showed no H-ras gene mutation. The rate of gene a mplification was 5% and did not correlate with the level of H-ras expressio n. These data indicate that increased expression and not amplification of t he H-ras gene is valuable, if H-ras has a favorable role with respect to cl inical outcome. This might be a general protective reaction as long as no m utation event has occurred in the H-ras gene.