PURPOSE:To investigate the status and detailed structure of Rb gene in primary tumors and somatic cells of patients with retinoblastoma. To identify the character, origin and transmission of oncogenie point mutations. METHODS:DNA hybridization,SSCP analysis and PCR-associated direct sequencing. RESULTS:Among 108 RB patients examined 80 cases were found to have subtle alterations affecting Rb locus,including 44 cases with homozygous Rb point mutations, 20 cases with two independent heterozygous Rb point mutations, 16 cases with heterozygous mutations involved in one allele of Rb gene. Majority of bilateral RB patients and a small fraction of unilateral RB patients were detected to have a germline mutation. In addition the higher frequency of new germline mutation and parental origin of mutation were observed. CONCLUSION :Rb gene is closely associated with retinoblastoma. Two mutation events and resulting inaetivations of both Rb alleles are required for RB tumorigenesis. Based on our own data,the first event is exclusively point mutation. As for the second event,LOH accounts for two third of cases,point mutation for one third of cases. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1997,13: 12- 16）
OBJECTIVE:The hereditary form of retinoblastoma(RB)is a monogenic disorder which is due to germinal mutation of RB susceptibility gene located on 13q14.The majority of hereditary RB cases transmit as a Mendelian autosomal dominant inheritance that 50% of the offspring of a carrier will inherit the disorder susceptibility gene and all carriers will develop the disorder.The authors report 3 hereditary RB families with incompleted penetrance and irregular transmission of RB phenotype. METHOD:RFLPsamp;VNTRs for analysis of haplotype and SSCPamp;direct DNA sequencing for determination of RB point mutation. RESULTS:The mosaicism of Rb gene point mutation resulted in the incompleted penetrance and irregular transmission of RB phentype. CONCLUSION:DAN-based diagnosis can be used to differentiate the hereditary and nonhereditary forms of retinblastoma but only is the direct detection of disease-causing mutation reliable for determnation of carrier and estimation of th e risk for retinoblastoma. （Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,1996,12: 37- 40）