Differences in K-ras codon 12 mutation frequency between "high-risk" and "low-risk" HPV-infected samples.
OBJECTIVE
The current study was designed to determine the association between K-ras point mutations and the presence of high- and low-risk HPV types in noncancerous samples.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-five noncancerous cytological samples from genital specimens positive for HPV-6, -16, or -18 were analyzed for codon 12 ras point mutations. DNA samples were subjected to nested PCR for the detection of HPV genome. Mutations at the first and second bases of K-ras codon 12 were detected using specific enriched PCR.


RESULTS
Eleven percent of the HPV-positive samples analyzed showed mutation in K-ras codon 12 (17 of 155). Mutations were detected in 8 of 53 HPV-16- (15%) and 8 of 38 HPV-18-positive samples (21%). Nevertheless, when HPV-6-positive samples were screened for K-ras mutations only 1 of 64 samples was found mutated (1.56%). Statistical analysis using the chi(2) test showed a highly significant difference (chi(2) = 9.865, P < 0.01) when the rate of mutation for samples positive for high-risk HPV types (16 and 18) was compared with the frequency found in low-risk-infected samples (HPV-6).


CONCLUSIONS
These results could be considered an indicator of the association between K-ras codon 12 mutations and the presence of high-risk HPV types.
Golijow
C D
CD
Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Calle 60 y 118 s/n, La Plata, 1900, Argentina.
Mourón
S A
SA
Gómez
M A
MA
Dulout
F N
FN
D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000821:virology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000821:virology*
D004279:DNA, Viral