Association of H‐ras mutations with adenocarcinomas of the parotid gland

We have examined 17 adenocarcinomas and 2 mixed tumors of the salivary glands for mutational activation of the oncogenes H‐ras, K‐ras and N‐ras. The presence of mutations was determined by in vitro amplification of gene fragments spanning codons 12, 13 and 61 and the use of mutation‐specific oligonucleotide hybridization. ras mutations were present in 3 of 13 adenocarcinomas (23%) of the parotid gland. The mutations were confirmed and characterized by means of cycle sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragments. In all 3 cases, the mutation was an A:T to G.C transition at the second position of codon 61 of the H‐ras gene. This rather unusual ras mutation could provide a clue to identify one or more carcinogens involved in the pathogenesis of parotid cancer. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Copyright © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company