K-ras gene point mutations in human endometrial carcinomas: correlation with clinicopathological features and patients' outcome

In order to evaluate the role of K-ras gene point mutations in the progress ion of endometrial carcinoma, we applied the polymerase chain reaction-rest riction-fragment-length polymorphism technique to 57 tumours surgically rem oved from women of Polish origin. We assessed the relationship between K-ra s gene activation and clinicopathological features as well as patients' out come. Mutational activation in codon 12 of the K-ras gene was detected in 8 out of 57 (14%) endometrial carcinomas, while in codon 13 of the K-I as ge ne no point mutations were noted. A correlation between the histological ty pe of the tumour and codon 12 K-rns gene mutation was noted (P < 0.05; Fish er exact test). K-ras gene mutation was not related to the patients' age, s urgical stage, histological grade or to the depth of myometrial invasion. A trend towards a poorer prognosis was noted during the follow-up of patient s whose tumours had shown K-ras codon 12 point mutations, but the differenc e was not significant(P = 0.06; log-rank test). Our data indicate that poin t mutations in codon 12 of the K-ras gene are a rare event in human endomet rial carcinomas. The lack of correlation between K-ras point mutations and clinicopathological features (except histological type) supports the hypoth esis of a random activation of the K-ras gene in human neoplastic endometri um.