Molecular determination of the malignant potential of smooth muscle neoplasms

BACKGROUND: The determination of the malignant potential of smooth muscle neoplasms remains ambiguous, and yet has far reaching clinical, therapeutic, and social implications. METHODS: In this pilot study, the authors examined smooth muscle isoactin gene expression by polymerase chain reaction in a variety of smooth muscle tumors. RESULTS: A lack of gamma-smooth muscle isoactin gene expression correlated 100% with a pathologic diagnosis of sarcoma. These results suggest that gamma-smooth muscle isoactin gene expression represents a unique molecular marker of oncogenic transformation. CONCLUSIONS: gamma-Smooth muscle isoactin gene expression provides a valuable molecular adjunct to the diagnosis of smooth muscle neoplasms.