Clin Chem Lab Med  1999 Jul;37(7):723-7 

A relationship between K-ras gene mutations and some clinical and histologic
variables in patients with primary colorectal carcinoma.

Beranek M, Bures J, Palicka V, Jandik P, Langr F, Nejedla E.

Institute of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostics, University Hospital, Hradec
Kralove, Czech Republic.

Mutations in the Kirsten ras 2 (K-ras) gene were described as early events in
the process of colorectal carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to find a
possible relationship between the presence of K-ras mutation in samples of
primary colorectal carcinomas and the clinico-pathological data of the
investigated patients. Mutation in codon 12 of the K-ras gene was determined in
18 of 53 colorectal carcinomas (34%) in our group of patients. The presence of
K-ras gene mutations was not related to gender, age of subject at diagnosis,
staging or cancer location (p > 0.05). Sixteen of the 42 (38%) moderately
differentiated carcinomas, and two of the eight (25%) well differentiated
carcinomas contained K-ras mutation in codon 12, but none of the three poorly
differentiated carcinomas contained the mutation. Moderately differentiated
tumours contained an aspartate code GAT (in eight cases), a valine code GTT (in
six cases), an alanine code GCT (in one case) and a serine code AGT (in one
case) in codon 12. Well differentiated tumours contained only the valine code
GTT (two cases). Our results show that the frequency of mutations in the K-ras
gene in carcinomas in Central Europe is not different from the frequencies found
in other parts of the world. The homogeneous incidence of K-ras mutation does
not seem to be related to ethnic factors, dietary habits, or the composition of
the diet.

PMID: 10510729 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]