Localization of the oncogene c-Ha-ras1 outside the aniridia-Wilms' tumor-associated deletion of chromosome 11(del 11p13) using somatic cell hybrids.

Hybrid cell lines, obtained after fusion of rodent cells with leukocytes from a patient with the aniridia-Wilms' tumor syndrome and carrying a specific constitutional deletion in chromosome #11 (del.11p13), were assayed for the presence of the c-Ha-ras1 oncogene. This sequence has recently been assigned to the p-arm of chromosome #11 and, hence, has been suggested to be involved in the development of renal tumors in patients with this syndrome. Positive hybridization of a cellular Ha-ras1 probe to hybrid cell DNA was observed, irrespective of whether the normal chromosome #11 or its deleted homologue was present. The results presented here suggest that c-Ha-ras1 is located outside the region 11p12-11p14, bounded by the chromosomal breakpoints observed in the patient used. Therefore, we conclude that predisposition of aniridia patients to develop Wilms' tumors is not due to a constitutional deletion of one of the c-Ha-ras1 alleles.