We investigated the expression and mutation of three isoforms of the Ras effector RASSF1 in 10 primary osteosarcomas and 6 osteosarcoma cell lines. RASSF1A was not expressed in 40% (4/10) of the primary osteosarcomas and 83.3% (5/6) of the osteosarcoma cell lines. RASSF1B and RASSF1C expression was absent in 30% (3/10) and 0% (0/10) of primary tumors, and 100% (6/6) and 0% (0/6) of osteosarcoma cell lines, respectively. Treatment of these cell lines with the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine reactivated the transcription of RASSF1A, but not that of RASSF1B or RASSF1C. No somatic mutations were noted in RASSF1 in either the primary tumors or cell lines. Our data indicate that epigenetic inactivation of RASSF1A by hypermethylation of its promoter region is a frequent event, and may play an important role in the tumorigenesis of osteosarcomas.

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