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Molecular lesions in oncogenes: a means of determining cancer causation

Conference · · Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5649751
Although some carcinogens give rise to unique types of cancer, causative agents for most cancers are not identifiable. A long-term goal of the authors research is to devise methods for detecting molecular differences in tumor cells that identify the causative agent. They are using normal and cancer tissues from plutonium-exposed dogs to determine whether radiation causes distinguishable patterns of genetic change. Initial studies provide three lines of evidence that a specific oncogene related to the Kirsten-ras (ki-ras) gene is activated in these tumors: 1) DNA from plutonium-induced lung tumors transformed NIH-3T3 cells in the standard transfection assay; 2) DNA from plutonium-induced lung tumors displays tumor-specific restriction fragment polymorphisms of the Ki-ras DNA sequences; 3) Expression of the Ki-ras gene product is increased in lung tumor cells compared to normal lung cells. Evidence suggests that these changes are more extensive than the single-base substitutions which have been observed in chemically induced or spontaneous tumors in other species.
Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
5649751
Report Number(s):
CONF-8610350-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States) Journal Volume: 185:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English