title: K-ras and p53 mutations and overexpressions as prognostic factors in female rectal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was undertaken to determine the prognostic significance of K-ras, p53 and bcl-2 in female rectal carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mutations in K-ras and p53 genes were analysed using SSCP and direct sequencing. The expression of K-ras, bcl-2 and p53 proteins was determined immunohistochemically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mutations of K-ras and p53 genes were detected in 12% and 38% of the tumours, respectively. The prevalence of K-ras overexpression was 67%. K-ras mutations were not associated with survival. However, more favourable survival was observed for patients with K-ras overexpression than with normal expression (adjusted hazard ratio from Cox model 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8). Mutation or overexpression of p53 were not associated with survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It may be possible, that the mutations and protein overexpression of K-ras and p53 in female rectal carcinoma have different clinical impact on patient survival as suggested in previous studies concerning colorectal carcinoma of both sexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hirvikoski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auvinen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Servomaa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiuru
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rytömaa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Makkonen
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kosma
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D011379:Prognosis; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D018631:ras Proteins