Frequency of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 mutations in sporadic tumours

Mutations in FGFR3 have been identified in several tumour types including b ladder carcinoma, cervical carcinoma, and multiple myeloma, In bladder carc inoma, we recently identified FGFR3 mutations in 41% of tumours, making thi s the most frequently mutated putative oncogene identified in bladder cance r to date. We have now investigated the frequency of FGFR3 mutation in a pa nel of 125 tumours and 13 cell lines from various other organs. We analysed the mutation hotspots in exons 7, 10 and 15 by direct DNA sequencing, and found one mutation in exon 7 (S249C) in 1/28 (3.5%) cervical tumours, Mutat ions were not detected in stomach, rectum, colon, prostate, ovarian, breast , brain, or renal tumours, nor were they found in any of the cell lines inc luded in this study. We conclude that FGFR3 is commonly mutated in bladder carcinoma and only rarely in cervical carcinoma. Several tumour types appea r not to possess any mutations in FCFR3, suggesting that these mutations ar e important only in the development of certain types of tumour.