Diagnosis of pancreatic lesions using fine needle aspiration cytology: detection of K-ras point mutations using solid phase minisequencing.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the diagnostic value of fine needle aspiration biopsy of pancreatic lesions using a simple mutation detection method based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


METHODS
Fine needle aspirates from 21 suspected pancreatic lesions were analysed for K-ras codon 12 point mutations using solid phase minisequencing.


RESULTS
A point mutation in codon 12 of the K-ras gene was detected in 14 of 17 cases of pancreatic carcinoma. No false positive results were recorded. The concordance of the result with routine cytology was 78%. All patients diagnosed as having malignant disease on cytology also had a K-ras point mutation. Additional information on the presence of malignancy was obtained using molecular genetic analysis in two cases.


CONCLUSIONS
PCR based minisequencing is a promising method for the analysis of cytological material. K-ras point mutation analysis was modified to enable it to be carried out in a clinical laboratory. Advantages of the method include its simplicity and speed. Adequate sampling guidance is important but analysis can be performed even with small amounts of cellular material.
Ihalainen
J
J
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Taavitsainen
M
M
Salmivaara
T
T
Palotie
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers