ACTIVATING MUTATIONS OF RAS FAMILY GENES IN PROSTATIC-CANCER

ras family genes (H-, K- and N-ras) encode for a 21 kD membrane protei n which possesses GTPase activity and participates in a signal transdu ction pathway. Activating mutations of the ras family genes occur at c odons 12, 13 and 61 and have been detected in a variety of human tumou rs, including colonic, bladder and pancreatic cancers. Prostatic cance r is among the most common malignancies throughout the world and a maj or cause of death from cancer in males. Data reported on the implicati on of the ras family genes in the development of the disease are confl icting. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of mutati ons at codon 12 of H-ras, codon 12 of K-ras and codon 61 of N-ras prot o-oncogenes, in a Greek population with prostatic cancer. Our analysis revealed that 4 out of 20 (20%) samples harboured a K-ras codon 12 po int mutation, 1 out of 20 (5%) specimens contained mutations at codon 12 of the H-ras and 1 out of 20 (5%) at codon 61 of the N-ras, indicat ing a role for the ras genes in the development of the disease.