title: Significance of K-ras codon 12 point mutation in pancreatic juice in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Futakawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Muto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003062:Codon