High frequency of K-ras codon 12 mutations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of patients at high risk for second primary lung cancer.
A high frequency of K-ras mutations may indicate preneoplastic changes in the bronchial epithelium as a result of genotoxic injury. With the use of sensitive detection techniques, we report a higher prevalence of K-ras mutations in bronchoalveolar lavage than has been reported previously for lung cancer. A PCR/ligase chain reaction technique was used to determine K-ras codon 12 mutations in a group of 52 bronchoalveolar lavage specimens from patients at risk of a second lung cancer. Of the specimens examined, 84% contained at least one mutation in K-ras codon 12, corroborated by an allele-specific hybridization method. These results suggest that point mutations in K-ras codon 12 are widespread in the bronchial epithelium. Based on these preliminary findings, further evaluation of this efficient sensitive assay to monitor K-ras status should be conducted in larger clinical cohorts where clinical outcomes will ultimately be available. Such a trial will define the utility of K-ras codon 12 mutation status as a marker of lung cancer.
Scott
F M
FM
Biomarkers and Prevention Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA.
Modali
R
R
Lehman
T A
TA
Seddon
M
M
Kelly
K
K
Dempsey
E C
EC
Wilson
V
V
Tockman
M S
MS
Mulshine
J L
JL
D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors
D003062:Codon