BACKGROUND: Activating point mutations of genes of the RAS family (KRAS, HRAS and NRAS genes) are frequently found in carcinomas, but their prevalence in sarcomas varies considerably among ethnic groups. No extensive studies in Japanese patients have been performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mutation analyses of three RAS genes (KRAS, HRAS and NRAS) were performed using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analyses and PCR direct sequencing in one hundred cases of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) as well as six STS cell lines from Japanese patients. RESULTS: No mutations were found in two hot spot regions (codon 12-13 and 61) of the three RAS genes. CONCLUSION: Activating mutations of the RAS gene family are uncommon events in soft tissue sarcomas in Japanese patients.
BACKGROUND: Activating point mutations of genes of the RAS family (KRAS, HRAS and NRAS genes) are frequently found in carcinomas, but their prevalence in sarcomas varies considerably among ethnic groups. No extensive studies in Japanese patients have been performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mutation analyses of three RAS genes (KRAS, HRAS and NRAS) were performed using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analyses and PCR direct sequencing in one hundred cases of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) as well as six STS cell lines from Japanese patients. RESULTS: No mutations were found in two hot spot regions (codon 12-13 and 61) of the three RAS genes. CONCLUSION: Activating mutations of the RAS gene family are uncommon events in soft tissue sarcomas in Japanese patients.