Induction of renal adenocarcinoma by a nonmutated erbB oncogene.

Oncogenicity tests have revealed that a nonmutated erbB oncogene induces renal adenocarcinoma in addition to erythroblastosis. The erbB oncogene is a truncated form of the chicken epidermal growth factor receptor that lacks the extracellular ligand-binding domain. Previously, the nonmutated erbB oncogene has been reported to cause only erythroblastosis. The expansion of the disease potential of erbB to additional neoplasms has been associated with mutations (truncations, deletions, and point mutations) within the erbB gene. Our results indicate that a nonmutated virally expressed erbB oncogene (REB-c) causes a 100% incidence of renal neoplasia.