The expression of the ras p21 oncoprotein in the bone marrow smears of children with acute leukemia.

Point mutations of the ras genes have been detected in various hematologic malignancies. This genetic event may either occur in all malignant cells or be acquired by different subclones, which, however, cannot be demonstrated adequately by analyzing only DNA derived from patient specimens. The availability of the ras p21 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) Y 13259 makes possible the direct study of the distribution of the ras gene product in human malignant cells. In this report the expression of the ras p21 oncoprotein in the bone marrow smears of 35 children with acute leukemia has been analyzed