[Alterations of c-myc and c-Ha-ras-1 oncogenes in human ovarian cancer]

Fourteen cases of the ovarian carcinoma (OC) were studied for alterations of c-myc and c-Ha-ras-1 oncogens. Amplification of c-myc was found in four aggressive and widespread OC. An increased frequency of one of the four common alleles of c-Ha-ras-1-allele A4-was determined in OC patients. Rearrangements of c-Ha-ras-1-allelic deletions and change in the allele fragment length-were found in all OC with A4 allele. In contrast, no alterations were detected in tumours without allele A4. Thus allele A4 of c-Ha-ras-1 may be viewed as a genetic marker of predisposition to OC in combination with other clinical parameters. Alterations of c-myc and c-Ha-ras-1 oncogens were observed in 8 out of 14 OC samples suggesting that the development of this type of human neoplasm is due to rearrangements of these genes.