DETECTION OF K-RAS GENE-MUTATIONS IN NONNEOPLASTIC LUNG-TISSUE AND LUNG CANCERS

Oncogene and tumor suppressor gene mutations are candidate biomarkers for cancer risk assessment and lesion detection. The K-ras oncogene ha s previously been associated with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly adenocarcinomas in which reported rates of mutation have approached 30-40%. We have analyzed non-malignant lung tissue from pat ients with lung cancer and primary lung cancers for K-ras gene mutatio ns. Mutations were detected in 32% cancers and 29% nonmalignant lung t issue from patients with cancer. The majority of tumors testing positi ve were adenocarcinoma of the lung. Normal DNA controls, including per ipheral blood lymphocytes and normal lung from non-smokers, were negat ive. The ability to detect genetic alterations in non-malignant lung t issues is consistent with the concept that genetic alterations are inv olved in field cancerization of the aerodigestive tract.