ANALYSIS OF KI-RAS CODON-12 MUTATIONS IN THE DUODENAL JUICE OF PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC-CANCER

Background & Aims: Point mutations of the Ki-ras gene at codon 12 have been frequently identified in pure pancreatic juice of patients with pancreatic cancer in studies examining pancreatic cancer tissues, The aim of this study was to examine mutations of the Ki-ras codon 12 in t he duodenal juice collected from patients with various pancreatic diso rders, Methods: The duodenal juice was collected through a Dreiling tu be installed in the duodenum during a secretin test, Analysis of the K i-ras mutations was performed using the enriched polymerase chain reac tion-single-strand conformation polymorphism technique. Results: Point mutations were detected in 12 of 19 patients with pancreatic cancer; of the 12 patients, 10 had ductal tubular adenocarcinoma and 2 intradu ctal papillary adenocarcinoma. Mutational patterns included GAT (n = 4 ), GTT (n = 3), CGT (n = 1), and double mutations of GTT and GAT (n = 3) and GAT and CGT (n = 1), in 41 patients with benign pancreatic diso rders, a point mutation was detected in only 1 patient with chronic pa ncreatitis, Conclusions: Analysis of the Ki-ras codon 12 mutations in the duodenal juice is useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.