N- and K-ras oncogenes in plasma cell dyscrasias.
N- and K-ras oncogene mutations represent the most frequent molecular lesions in plasma cell dyscrasias. They are not randomly distributed since they are detectable in multiple myeloma (MM) (9-31%) and plasma cell leukemia (PCL) (30%), and not in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and solitary plasmacytoma (SP). Codons 12, 13 and 61 of N- and K-ras genes have been found mutated. Mutations affecting codon 61 of N-ras gene are the most frequent finding. A heterogeneous pattern of mutations is described with a prevalence of purine-pyrimidine transversions. Ras gene mutations have been predominantly detected in myelomas characterized by an advanced stage disease, and adverse prognostic parameters. These findings suggest that ras mutations represent a late molecular lesion and may be implicated in tumor progression rather than tumor initiation.
Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, University of Torino, Italy.
P
P
Corradini
M
M
Ladetto
G
G
Inghirami
M
M
Boccadoro
A
A
Pileri
D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000235:genetics; D008998:Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / Q000235:genetics; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000235:genetics*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000235:genetics; D017354:Point Mutation; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011379:Prognosis