Mutations of ras genes are relatively frequent in Japanese prostate cancers: pointing to genetic differences between populations.
Point mutations of the ras gene family are thought to be involved in the development of a variety of human tumors. However, it remains unknown whether the ras gene might play a key role in prostate carcinogenesis. We therefore analysed Ki-,N- and H-ras gene mutations in a series of 81 Japanese prostate cancers using PCR-SSCP analysis and Mutant-Allele-Specific Amplification (MASA) method. Mutated as genes were detected in 20 of the 81 samples (24%); three of 22 latent, one of five stage B, four of 14 stage C and 12 of 40 stage D cancers. Of the twenty as gene mutations, 13 were in Ki-ras (codon 12), five in H-ras codon 61 and two H-ras codon 13. The observed frequency of ras gene mutations was higher than that reported in the literature for some non-Japanese prostate cancers, suggesting the possibility of genetic differences between populations.
Second Department of Pathology, Mie University School of Medicine, Japan.
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T
Shiraishi
T
T
Muneyuki
K
K
Fukutome
H
H
Ito
T
T
Kotake
M
M
Watanabe
R
R
Yatani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology