In vitro transformation of epithelial cells by ras oncogenes.

Genes of the ras family of dominant transforming genes are frequently activated by specific point mutations in common human epithelial malignancies and also in many experimental tumour models. Testing of the hypothesis that ras activation is a critical event in tumorigenesis involves reconstruction of genetic events in vitro using appropriate epithelial models. This article reviews experimental transformation of human and rodent epithelial cells by ras oncogenes in vitro, alone and in combination with cooperating oncogenic events.