AGENT-SPECIFIC RAS ONCOGENE ACTIVATION IN RAT-THYROID TUMORS

  • 1 November 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 3  (5) , 541-544
Abstract
Activated ras oncogenes have been detected in a number of rodent tumour model systems (Balmain et al., 1986; Barbacid 1987), in which chemical carcinogens have been the most widely used inducing agents. We have investigated the involvement of activated oncogenes in a single well-characterized tumour model, rat thyroid neoplasia, produced not only by chemical carcinogen (nitrosomethylurea, NMU) and by ionizing radiation but also by elevated trophic stimulation alone. We have identified a striking specificity in patterns of ras oncogene activation, with exclusively Ha-ras activated in 87% of NMU-induced tumours and exclusively Ki-ras activated in 60% radiation-induced tumours.