title: Detection of preferential NRAS mutations in human male germ cell tumors by the polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: We have studied 31 male germ cell tumors (GCTs) for probable mutations in codons 12, 13, and 61 of HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS oncogenes using the polymerase chain reaction. Twenty of the thirty-one tumors exhibited NRAS gene mutations, 14 in codon 61, and six in codon 12, whereas no mutations were detected in HRAS and KRAS genes. The NRAS mutations were equally prevalent in seminomatous and nonseminomatous GCTs. Thus 13 of 22 seminomas, six of seven embryonal carcinomas, and one of two mixed tumors exhibited mutations. Two non-seminomatous tumors (an embryonal carcinoma and a yolk sac/teratoma) had mutations in both codons 12 and 61. The high frequency of NRAS mutations observed in the present study suggests that NRAS gene products may play an important role in growth regulatory functions of premalignant and malignant germ cells.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York, New York.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Murty
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samaniego
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Reuter
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Bosl
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Chaganti
mesh_terms: D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020558:GTP Phosphohydrolases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)