title: Prospective evaluation of the contribution of K-ras mutational analysis and CA 19.9 measurement to cytological diagnosis in patients with clinical suspicion of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the diagnostic contribution of the detection of K-ras mutation and measurement of serum CA 19.9 concentrations to cytological diagnosis in patients with clinical suspicion of pancreatic cancer. These patients had either the presence or absence of a pancreatic mass as determined by imaging procedures. A total of 156 consecutive patients with clinical suspicion of pancreatic cancer or for confirmation and follow-up of their chronic pancreatitis disease were included: 84 patients presenting a pancreatic mass (group 1) and 72 patients without a pancreatic mass (group 2). K-ras mutations were detected by a restriction fragment length polymorphism/polymerase chain reaction (RFLP/PCR) method and CA 19.9 by an immunoluminometric assay. When a pancreatic mass was present, cytology offered a high sensitivity, but with a significant number of inconclusive results and K-ras mutational analysis offered a highly specific test. In the absence of a pancreatic mass, CA 19.9 (cut-off 100 U/ml) increased the sensitivity of the diagnosis by cytology and K-ras mutational analysis did not add significant information. Thus both tests contribute to the clinical decision process when pancreatic cancer is clinically suspected and the cytological report is not conclusive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Sant Antoni M. Claret, 167, E-08025, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urgell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boadas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Capellà
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Queraltó
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boluda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonijuan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lluís
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Sastre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen