K-ras mutations at codon 12 are rare events in chronic pancreatitis.
OBJECTIVE
The activation of the K-ras gene at codon 12 is thought to be an early genetic event in the multistep pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Since the risk of pancreatic cancer is significantly elevated in subjects with chronic pancreatitis, the aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of K-ras mutations in chronic pancreatitis.


METHODS
Pancreatic DNA from intraoperatively resected tissues of 60 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 11 patients with histologically confirmed pancreatic carcinoma was evaluated by PCR amplification and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.


RESULTS
In none of the 60 samples of chronic pancreatitis could K-ras mutations be identified using two independent PCR assays. In 5 of 11 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, K-ras mutations in codon 12 were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that K-ras mutations are rare events in chronic pancreatitis. Alternatively, it is possible that the time span between the occurrence of K-ras mutations and malignant transformation is rather short.
Orth
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University, Germany.
Gansauge
F
F
Gansauge
S
S
Beger
H G
HG
Adler
G
G
Schmid
R M
RM
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D019003:Deoxyribonuclease HpaII / Q000378:metabolism; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D003062:Codon; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004247:DNA; D019003:Deoxyribonuclease HpaII