Analysis of oncogene expression in primary human gliomas: evidence for increased expression of the ros oncogene.

Expression of a panel of oncogenes and potential oncogenes was studied in normal human brain and in 17 human gliomas, including three low- and 14 high-malignancy-grade tumors. PolyA RNA was isolated from glioma biopsies and used as template for reverse transcriptase-catalyzed synthesis of radioactively labeled cDNA. Labeled cDNA was then hybridized to filters to which probes for various oncogenes had been attached. Increased signal intensity, as compared with that of normal brain, was observed for the ros oncogene in six of 17 gliomas, including gliomas of both low and high malignancy grades. Increased ros expression was verified by Northern blot analysis in one tumor. These results suggest that increased ros expression may play a role in tumorigenesis in a significant proportion of gliomas. Increased expression of other genes, including the erbA2, mel, and ets oncogenes was observed in a smaller proportion of the gliomas tested, suggesting a possible role for these oncogenes in individual tumors but no generalized role in development or progression of human gliomas.