Amplification of the human putative oncogene INT1 in primary retinoblastoma tumors

Abstract
We report the amplification of the putative oncogene INTl in two of four retinoblastomas. In one case, the INTl signal was amplified 10 to 15-fold, in the other 100-fold. In both cases there were signs of increased tumor aggressiveness with invasion of the choroid and development of metastases. The two cases without INTl amplification had neither metastases nor locally invasive growth. Our findings indicate that INTl amplification may be a feature of increased malignant potential in retinoblastomas.