Alterations of retinoblastoma susceptible gene accompanied by c-myc amplification in human bone and soft tissue tumors. The present study was undertaken to examine oncogene abnormalities in human bone and soft tissue tumors. Twenty four tumor tissues and one human cell strain established from an osteosarcoma were examined by Southern blot analysis using a recessive oncogene (p0.9R and p3.8R derived from a cDNA of the Rb gene) and eight dominant oncogenes (c-myc, c-K-ras, c-fos, c-raf-1, c-fms, c-sis, N-myc, and c-erb B) as probes. Homozygous deletions or other alterations within the Rb locus were found in 3 of 6 osteosarcomas, 1 osteosarcoma cell line, 1 of 3 malignant fibrous histiocytomas and 1 of 2 Ewing's sarcomas. On the other hand, amplification of c-myc was found in 2 osteosarcomas and 1 osteosarcoma cell line. All cases with c-myc amplification had alterations in the structure of the Rb locus, and these patients showed rapid clinical malignancy progression and a probable tendency to bone metastases. Results of this study suggest that structural alterations of the Rb gene and amplification of c-myc might play an important role in the clinical course and pathogenesis of osteosarcoma.