[K-ras mutation analysis in ovarian serous borderline and malignant tumors].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the roles of K-ras gene in the tumorigenesis of ovarian serous borderline and malignant tumors.


METHODS
Fifty one tissue samples of ovarian serous tumors, including 18 conventional serous borderline tumors, 11 micropapillary serous borderline tumors, 12 invasive micropapillary serous carcinomas, and 10 conventional serous carcinomas were investigated for the presence of K-ras mutation. DNA was extracted after microdissection of the tumor tissue, the exon 1 of K-ras gene was amplified by PCR, and the presence of mutation at the codons 12 and 13 was evaluated by direct sequencing analysis.


RESULTS
GGT to GTT mutation at codon 12 of the K-ras gene was found in one conventional serous borderline tumors, resulting in valine to glycine substitution. All other 50 cases showed no K-ras mutation. All tumors had a wild-type codon 13.


CONCLUSIONS
Mutations of K-ras at codons 12 and 13 in ovarian serous tumors are very rare in this series of patients, suggesting a difference present between the Chinese and Caucasian populations. K-ras mutations may play a less important role in the tumorigenesis of ovarian serous tumor of the Chinese patients.
Ma
Li
L
Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
Guo
Li-na
LN
Liang
Zhi-yong
ZY
Ren
Xin-yu
XY
Wu
Sha-fei
SF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D003062:Codon; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000235:genetics*; D018293:Cystadenoma, Serous / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D003062:Codon