K-ras point mutations are often detected in part of the lung carcinoma
s. For the validation of a highly sensitive and rapid assay for known
point mutations, Point-EXACCT (Biochim Biophys Acta 1998; 1379:42-52),
we analyzed 89 non-small cell lung carcinomas and compared the result
s with two sequencing methods. No point mutations were found with doub
le-stranded sequencing. Single-stranded sequencing detected six patien
ts positive for K-ms codon 12. When Point-EXACCT was used, K-ras codon
12 mutations were detected in 8 of 52 patients with squamous cell car
cinomas, 10 of 29 patients with adenocarcinomas, and 3 of 8 patients w
ith large cell carcinomas. The finding of K-rns mutations in squamous
cell carcinomas is explained by the high sensitivity of the method. Th
erefore, Point-EXACCT may be applicable to detection of those alterati
ons occurring at a low frequency among an excess of cells with wild-ty
pe DNA.