Abstract

AIMS: To investigate the types and the frequencies of H-ras-1 gene mutations in malignant fibrous histiocytomas. METHODS: Thirty five samples of malignant fibrous histiocytoma tissue were searched for point mutations within "hot spot" codons 12 and 13 of the H-ras-1 oncogene by the specific "nested" polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and a direct cycle sequencing procedure. RESULTS: In contrast to previous reports, none of the tumours contained a point mutation or any other changes within or around the hot spot gene sequences. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that H-ras-1 oncogenic activation is not required in the molecular pathway of malignant fibrous histiocytoma formation and cannot be used as a discriminating factor for diagnostic sarcoma typing.