MUTATION ANALYSIS OF THE PROTO-ONCOGENES Ki-RAS AND C-MYC IN THE SOFT TISSUE TUMORS OF THE RATS THAT WERE FORMED BY 3-METHYLCHOLANTHRENE IN VIVO

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon represents one of the most potent carcinogens known. 3-Methylcholanthrene is a carcinogenic agent included in PAH. In mammalian system toxic and carcinogenic effects of 3- Methylcholanthrene have demonstrated. These compounds are frequently encountered in the environment in tar, soot, in the air due to liquid or solid fuel, in the gas expelled from the exhausts, in cigarette fumes and in soot- coated food. The aim of this research has been to identify whether any mutation occurs in exons 1-2 of the Ki-ras gene and exon 2 of the C-myc gene in tumors formed in rats chronically treated with a dose of 40 mg/kg 3- Methylcholanthrene. Rats were killed by cervical dislocation 26 weeks after the last injection and soft tissue tumors were removed. Tissues were examined for given genes by PCR based SSCP analysis. As a result no point mutations were observed in any exons 1-2 of the Ki-ras gene and exon 2 of the C-myc gene.