K-RAS MUTATIONS IN NONMUCINOUS OVARIAN EPITHELIAL TUMORS - A MOLECULAR ANALYSIS AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF 144 PATIENTS

BACKGROUND. To assess the putative prognostic mutations in nonmucinous ovarian tumors, the authors looked for K-ras point mutations at codon s 12 and 13 in 144 nonmucinous ovarian turners, METHODS. A series of 1 44 consecutive, unselected, archival, nonmucinous ovarian turners (35 benign, 12 borderline, and 97 malignant) were studied. K-ras mutations at codons 12 and 13 were determined by polymerase chain reaction usin g the restriction fragment length polymorphism method with mismatched nested primers. Extensive clinicopathologic and follow-lip data on all patients were evaluated. RESULTS, The overall prevalence of K-ras mut ations at codons 12 and 13 was 30.5% (44/144). In benign tumors, it wa s 20% (7/35); in borderline turners, 25% (3/12); and in carcinomas, 35 % (34/97). The presence of K-ras point mutations did not correlate wit h survival. Among the benign tumors, K-ras mutations were detected in three Brenner tumors with a mucinous component. CONCLUSIONS. These res ults indicate that K-ras mutations are not initial events in the patho genesis of nonmucinous ovarian tumors and do not appear to be related to survival. (C) 1998 American Cancer Society.