title: A comparison of the detection of activated c-Ki-ras genes by mismatch specific oligonucleotide hybridisation analysis and enriched PCR in colorectal adenocarcinomas.
abstract: We have examined 56 colorectal adenocarcinomas for activation of the c-Ki-ras proto-oncogene by two independent techniques, namely mismatch specific oligonucleotide hybridisation and an enriched PCR methodology. Biological significance of c-Ki-ras activation was assessed via Kaplan Meier analysis of patient survival. A total of 27% (15/56) of tumours were found to contain activated c-Ki-ras genes by mismatch specific oligonucleotide hybridisation and mutation was significantly associated with a poorer patient prognosis (p=0.018, log rank analysis). A total of 55% (31/56) of tumours were found to contain activated c-Ki-ras genes by enriched PCR, and again an association was noted between mutation and patient survival, but of a lower significance (p=0.029, log rank analysis). These results indicate that a high proportion of colorectal adenocarcinomas may contain low levels of activated c-Ki-ras genes, but this may be of limited biological significance.
authors.affiliation: SINGAPORE GEN HOSP,DEPT COLORECTAL SURG,COLORECTAL CANC RES LAB,SINGAPORE 169608,SINGAPORE.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elnatan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smith