FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF THE SIGNIFICANC E OF MUTATIONS IN THE CDKN2TUMOR-SUPPRESSOR GENE IN PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMA

We investigated 62 pancreatic tumors of different histologic types and 30 chronic pancreatitis specimens for mutations in the CDKN2 tumor su ppressor gene to evaluate whether CDKN2 is of diagnostic or prognostic value for the ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. CDKN2 mutations were identified in 21 (40.5%) of 51 ductal adenocarcinomas and in none of the other tumors nor in the chronic pancreatitis specimens. This e xpanded series confirms that a significant proportion of pancreatic ad enocarcinomas carries detectable CDKN2 mutations. For those patients f or whom follow-up was available, the median survival for those with CD KN2 mutation positive tumors was only half of that of patients with CD KN2 mutation negative tumors (p=0.014). CDKN2 mutation is valuable in distinguishing between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and other pancreatic tumors or chronic pancreatitis. CDKN2 represents a potentially importa nt prognostic marker for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma.