title: ras and myc analysis in primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas.
abstract: Paired primary colorectal adenocarcinoma and normal frozen tissue samples from 60 patients were prospectively studied to determine the frequency of point mutations in K-ras and the occurrence of structural alterations in c-myc. Parallel investigations were performed on liver metastatic specimens from 16 of the patients. 47% of the primary tumors presented point mutations in K-ras; 71% of these were in codon 12. Significant associations were found between codon 13 ras mutations and Dukes' D stage (p<0.05), and between mutations in codon 12 and mucinous type (p<0.01). The c-myc gene structure was altered in 5/60 cases (8%). In 4/16 cases, the K-ras gene status in the primary carcinoma and in the metastatic tissue from the same patient was found to be different. Our results suggest that codon 13 I-as mutations may be associated with an increased invasive and metastatic potential, while codon 12 mutations may have a role in the mucinous differentiation pathway.
authors.affiliation: UNIV PALERMO,SCH MED,SECT EXPT ONCOL,I-90144 PALERMO,ITALY. UNIV PALERMO,DEPT CELLULAR & DEV BIOL,I-90128 PALERMO,ITALY. UNIV PALERMO,SCH MED,DEPT CLIN ONCOL RES,DIV SURG ONCOL,I-90127 PALERMO,ITALY. UNIV PALERMO,SCH MED,INST PATHOL R,I-90127 PALERMO,ITALY. EPIDEMIOL OBSERV CTR SICILIAN REG,I-90100 PALERMO,ITALY.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Albanese
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rinaudo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bazan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Migliavacca
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bazan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dardanoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tomasino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lafarina