title: Ras gene activation in malignant cells of human ovarian carcinoma peritoneal fluids.
abstract: In this study, we showed, for the first time, the pattern of point mutations at codon 12 of the K-ras, H-ras and N-ras genes, using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in 47 malignant cytologic specimens of ovarian adenocarcinoma peritoneal fluids. Forty-seven % of the samples were found to carry a point mutation at codon 12 of K-ras gene. Also, 21 cystadenoma peritoneal fluids were used as control specimens for the detection of ras mutations. Fourteen % of these samples were found to carry a point mutation at codon 12 of the K-ras gene. The prevalence of K-ras gene mutations were statistically correlated with FIGO and surgical stage of the malignant specimens. Our data demonstrates that the K-ras gene mutations are mainly affected (47%) in the malignant cells of the peritoneal washings or ascites of women with ovarian adenocarcinomas and may have value for the early diagnosis and monitoring of these neoplasms.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Virology, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece.
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Dokianakis
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Varras
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papaefthimiou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Apostolopoulou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Simiakaki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Diakomanolis
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D001201:Ascites / Q000235:genetics; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D003537:Cystadenoma / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity