To evaluate the molecular basis for use of imatinib mesylate in ovarian carcinoma, we analysed the frequency of KIT and PDGFRA mutations by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and direct sequencing of aberrant exons in 125 and 187 serous ovarian carcinoma specimens, respectively. The gene discussed is PDGFRA; the disease is ovarian serous carcinoma.