K-RAS AND P53 MUTATIONS IN HAMSTER PANCREATIC DUCTAL ADENOCARCINOMAS AND CELL-LINES

K-ras and p53 gene alterations are frequently found in human pancreati c carcinomas and cell lines. The aim of this study, was to analyze for the presence of K-ras and p53 gene mutations in hamster pancreatic tu mors and cell lines. Mutations at the first coding exon of the K-ras g ene and in exons V to VIII of the hamster p53 gene were analyzed in si x cell lines (H2T, PCI, PC1.2, PC1.0, WD, and PD) and in N-nitroso-bis (2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic (n = 9) and extra-pancreatic (n = 4) tumors, K-ras mutations were present in seven of the nine pancrea tic tumors and in all extra-pancreatic tumors, No p53 mutations were d etected in the tumors, All cell lines analyzed contained K-ras mutatio ns, Moreover, four of the six cell lines contained single amino acid s ubstitutions in the p53 gene. Cell lines derived from nitrosamine-indu ced pancreatic tumors in the hamster contained K-ras and p53 alteratio ns similar to those found in cell lines derived from human pancreatic carcinomas.