title: Molecular approaches for colorectal cancer screening.
abstract: Molecular genetic approaches for colorectal cancer screening using stool samples have the potential to be very specific, sensitive and cost effective. K-ras oncogene mutation, observed in about 50% of the colorectal tumours, serves as an ideal target for such an approach. Several studies have shown that K-ras gene mutations present in the tumours can be detected from the stool of patients with colorectal cancer. The challenge for clinical application, however, is to develop a simple method for robust PCR amplification and a reliable assay for K-ras gene mutation detection in the stool samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. jenjin@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005243:Feces / Q000166:cytology; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction