Significance of K-ras codon 12 point mutation in pancreatic juice in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas.
The significance of K-ras codon 12 point mutation in pancreatic juice in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of K-ras codon 12 point mutation in pancreatic juice in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas. All of the 78 reports written from 1988 to 1996 on K-ras point mutation of carcinoma, mucin-producing tumors, and hyperplastic epithelia of the pancreas in both surgical or autopsy specimens and pancreatic juice are reviewed. As results, in surgical or autopsy specimens, K-ras mutation was found in 81% of ordinary duct cell carcinoma and in 53% of mucin-producing tumor of the pancreas; this mutation was also found in hyperplastic epithelia in chronic pancreatitis (7%) and in autopsy cases without pancreatic diseases. In pancreatic juice, K-ras mutation was found in 72% of ordinary pancreatic carcinoma and in 53% of mucin-producing tumor, respectively. In conclusion, most previous reports have indicated that K-ras mutation in pancreatic juice is useful for a diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. However, since K-ras gene mutation was also detected in non-tumorous lesions, the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinomas is not necessarily correct if it is based solely on the detection of K-ras mutation in pancreatic juice. Future studies should focus on analyzing the amino acid sequence of K-ras mutation or the combination of this mutation with other parameters such as tumor markers in pancreatic juice, to enhance its specificity and accuracy.
Kimura
W
W
First Department of Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.
Zhao
B
B
Futakawa
N
N
Muto
T
T
Makuuchi
M
M
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003062:Codon; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts; D010189:Pancreatic Juice / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000235:genetics; D017354:Point Mutation
D003062:Codon