[Combined detection of K-ras mutation and CA 19-9 level in plasma of patients with pancreatic cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To confirm the effect of combined detection of K-ras gene mutation and CA 19-9 level in plasma in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.


METHODS
In 33 patients without pancreatic carcinoma and 15 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, the value of K-ras mutation and CA 19-9 level were examined by enriched polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and radioimmunoassay respectively. The data were analysed with chi(2) test, Fisher's exact test and Kruekal-wall's test. All patients were confirmed pathologically.


RESULTS
Eleven of the 15 patients with pancreatic carcinoma and 2 of 10 patients with chronic pancreatitis were found K-ras mutation. CA 19-9 level in patients with pancreatic cancer was significantly higher than that in those with benign disease but with a low specificity. The sensitivity, specificity of combined detection of K-ras gene mutation and CA 19-9 level in the plasma of patients with pancreatic cancer were 66.67% and 97%. There was a significant difference between patients with pancreatic cancer and those without pancreatic cancer. Pathological examination showed atypical hyperplasia in one patient with chronic pancreatitis who had K-ras mutation and higher CA 19-9 level.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined detection of K-ras gene mutation and CA 19-9 can be used for adjuvant diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. It is more specific than detection of single K-ras gene mutation or CA 19-9 level in the plasma. The method is complementary to single detection of K-ras gene mutation or CA 19-9 level because it decreases the rate of false-positive diagnosis.
Dai
Meng-hua
MH
Department of General Surgery. Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Zhao
Yu-pei
YP
Cai
Li-xing
LX
Zhu
Yu
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen