Activation of the mouse cellular Harvey-ras gene in chemically induced benign skin papillomas (original) (raw)

Nature volume 307, pages 658–660 (1984)Cite this article

Abstract

An important feature of the development of many human and animal tumours is the appearance of pre-malignant benign lesions, some of which undergo further changes during progression to malignancy1–4. Many of the currently accepted concepts of multi-stage carcinogenesis have been developed using an experimental model based on the chemical induction of tumours in mouse skin3,4. In this system, many of the pre-malignant papillomas which arise are promoter-dependent, and appear to regress if promoter treatment is interrupted, whereas others progress to form autonomous benign lesions and, in some cases, malignant carcinomas5. Although the number and nature of the events leading to malignancy are not known, DNA transfection experiments have led to the identification of several genes which may be qualitatively altered in tumour cells (see ref. 6 for review). We have previously shown that DNA from transplantable mouse skin carcinomas induced by chemical carcinogens has the ability to transform NIH/3T3 cells, and that the gene responsible for the transformation is an activated form of the mouse cellular Harvey-ras gene (c-_ras_H)7. We have now investigated the stage of carcinogenesis at which the proto-oncogene acquires transforming activity. We demonstrate that primary papillomas induced by chemical carcinogens in two different mouse strains have an activated c-_ras_H gene. This constitutes the first report of a benign tumour which contains DNA with detectable transforming activity. In addition, steady-state levels of c-_ras_H gene transcripts are elevated in the papillomas as compared with normal epidermis.

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Author notes

  1. George T. Bowden: Division of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, Garscube Estate, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
    Allan Balmain, Martin Ramsden, George T. Bowden & John Smith

Authors

  1. Allan Balmain
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  2. Martin Ramsden
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  3. George T. Bowden
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  4. John Smith
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Balmain, A., Ramsden, M., Bowden, G. et al. Activation of the mouse cellular Harvey-ras gene in chemically induced benign skin papillomas.Nature 307, 658–660 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/307658a0

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