title: Molecular determination of the malignant potential of smooth muscle neoplasms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The determination of the malignant potential of smooth muscle neoplasms remains ambiguous, and yet has far reaching clinical, therapeutic, and social implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, the authors examined smooth muscle isoactin gene expression by polymerase chain reaction in a variety of smooth muscle tumors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A lack of gamma-smooth muscle isoactin gene expression correlated 100% with a pathologic diagnosis of sarcoma. These results suggest that gamma-smooth muscle isoactin gene expression represents a unique molecular marker of oncogenic transformation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  gamma-Smooth muscle isoactin gene expression provides a valuable molecular adjunct to the diagnosis of smooth muscle neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Trzyna
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCue
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McHugh
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins